…as authorities push for airline with non-stop flights
In keeping with Guyana’s growing clout on the international stage, the Government has been making moves to remove restrictions on Guyanese travel. The latest such country for the Government to enter into talks with is Canada.
Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud (second left); Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman (third left) and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh (fourth left), along with other key officials during the reception
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman revealed to the media on the sidelines of an event that the Guyana Government has indeed approached Canada, seeking visa-free travel for visitors. It is a request that has been forwarded to Ottawa, which is Canada’s political centre.
“We’ve raised the issue with Ottawa. Our visa policy is different from the United Kingdom. It’s based off different issues. Guyana is only one in a number of countries in the world, a hundred, for whom we have visa requirements,” Berman told the media.
“It’s something we’re looking at and we’ll make a determination. The Government of Guyana have indicated their interest in having that discussion and we’ve advised on it,” the High Commissioner further explained.
Non-stop services
Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman
During a reception in honour of the visit of Energy NL Trade Mission to Guyana, Berman had also announced that the High Commission in Georgetown is pushing for a Canadian airline to offer non-stop services between the two countries.
“The High Commission in Georgetown continues to work on bringing a Canadian air carrier service to offer non-stop flights from Canada to Guyana, facilitating Guyanese stakeholders at Canadian fora that showcase Canadian companies and expertise,” the diplomat said.
Air Canada is one of the airlines being considered. According to the High Commissioner, the commercial relationship between the two countries is expanding.
“As I have said before, our commercial relationship with Guyana is growing and will continue to grow because we are natural partners, similarly, blessed with an abundance of natural resources, sharing many values, and enjoying strong people-to-people ties stemming from our sizeable Guyanese diaspora in Canada and many Canadians living in Guyana.”
Government’s talks with Canada on visa-free travel also follow similar talks it has entered into with Italy, for visa-free travel. Talks with Italy were initiated when Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd met with the Non-Resident Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Italy, Fabrizio Nicoletti, recently.
A release from the Foreign Affairs Minister noted that the two officials spoke on improving bilateral relations between the countries and visa-free travel is viewed as a key pursuit.
Holders of a valid Guyanese passport will no longer need to have a visa to enter the United Kingdom (UK) after November 9, following a decision by the UK to remove visitor visa requirements for Guyanese to travel to their country, for up to six months.
The decision to remove visitor visa restrictions for travel to the UK was announced in October during a press conference hosted by the British High Commission. According to British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller, OBE, the removal of visa requirements is for an indefinite period.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was present at the press conference, described the decision as a demonstration of British confidence in Guyana. While he urged Guyanese to take up the visa-free opportunity for travel, he also cautioned them to be conscientious and not abuse the visa waiver.
“What the UK Government has done for us, is demonstrate confidence in us as a people and a country. And I think we should applaud the UK. Demonstrating that trust would go no small way in pushing others, because the UK is part of the developed world. And you can’t tell us you have security concerns beyond a certain level, that the UK doesn’t have,” President Ali had said. (G3)
