51 stranded Guyanese return home from Antigua, Tortola

After six months of being stranded in Antigua and Tortola as a result of the closure of most regional airports including the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 51 Guyanese finally returned home on Sunday.
The group arrived at the CJIA at about 16:00h via InterCarribbean flight IWY947.
George Niles – an incoming passenger, told reporters that he has been working in Tortola for some time now, but the pandemic pushed him to spend more time with the family.

“The pandemic has caused a lot of chaos, and I can say to you that it is a time that we should come home and stay with our family and live a life that is so wonderful,” he said while noting that he remains optimistic about post-COVID-19.
Another passenger stated that three days after departing Guyana, the airports were closed.
“I left here on the 13th March, and within three days of my arrival in Antigua, there was a lockdown. Fortunately, I was accommodated at my brother and his wife,” Alec Persaud explained.

Also, Vaughn Trapp, a Berbician, stated that “home is where the heart is,” after spending more than five months in Antigua.
“It was not a nice experience being away from home, very uncomfortable. Home is where the heart is, but the only struggle I had was trying to get chartered flights,” Trapp explained.
Several repatriation flights have been scheduled for September and October, to facilitate the return of stranded Guyanese who are stuck in the US and Canada.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill noted during a recent press conference said that these chartered flights will be performed through US-based Eastern Airlines.
These flights are much needed as Guyana’s international airports remain closed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flights are scheduled to arrive in Guyana via the Miami International Airport on September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; and on October 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Those from the John F Kennedy Airport will be facilitated on September 2, 9, 16 23, and 30; and on October 7, 14, 21 and 28. Once landed in Guyana, the flights will return to the US.
However, apart from the repatriation flights, only cargo, medevacs, specially authorised flights, and technical stops for fuel are permitted at this time.
Officials are working to have a phased reopening of the sector. During the months of closure, which began in March, the CJIA has already lost over $1 billion in revenue.
On August 1, the phased reopening of the Cheddi Jagan and Eugene F Correia International Airports was deferred until further notice due to the spike in COVID-19 cases. The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) had stated that the airport would remain closed to all international flights except for outgoing flights, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, technical stops for fuel only, and specially authorised flights. The reopening was again postponed on August 15 due to the rise in positive coronavirus cases.
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 has said the deferral is critical to ensure that the country’s health is protected.