6 repatriation flights scheduled for August – GCAA

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced six repatriation flights from the United States of America, which will see stranded Guyanese returning home within the next three weeks.
On Monday, the Authority noted that the repatriation will be executed by US-based Eastern Airlines from Miami and New York. The flights are scheduled for August 11, 18 and 25 from the Miami International Airport and August 12, 19 and 26 from the John F Kennedy International Airport.
Other persons will be repatriated to the US from Guyana in six flights, scheduled for the same dates outlined.
In order to be accepted on a flight to Guyana, the electronic Repatriation Form available via GCAA’s website must be completed. Additionally, a molecular biological PCR test for COVID-19 must be completed, and the negative result sent to [email protected].
Since the repatriation efforts commenced to bring Guyanese home, over 1300 persons have returned from North America, St Marteen, Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago; and Barbados.
A few weeks ago, Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud scolded Guyanese who are being repatriated for reportedly giving health officials false information upon their arrival in the country.
“This irresponsible and selfish act is putting your life and the lives of our citizens at risk and placing undue pressure on our health workers and health system,” the CMO contended.
On August 1, the phased re-opening of the Cheddi Jagan and Eugene F Correia international airports was deferred until further announced due to the spike in COVID-19 cases. The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) had stated that the airport will remain closed to all international flights except for outgoing flights, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, technical stops for fuel only and special authorised flights.
The country’s borders and airports were closed on March 17 to bar the importation of positive COVID-19 cases, which has crippled flights. Meanwhile, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Colonel (ret’d) Egbert Field had stated that the deferral is critical to ensure that the country’s health is protected.
“We have to be careful that the health of the nation is also looked at, so it is a balancing act in the sense that we have to ensure that the visitors do not bring additional burden in view of COVID-19 to the citizens of Guyana.”
Moreover, he also reprimanded the careless behaviour of the general populace in following the COVID-19 guidelines.
“Health authorities are already encountering challenges in handling the spread of the virus, but more needs to be done from the populace. I would like to see penalties exactly against individuals who do not conform to the measures and the protocols,” he concluded. (G12)