US Embassy closes Georgetown office

COVID-19 outbreak

…all staff working from home

The United States Embassy in Guyana has implemented a 100 per cent remote work policy to protect its employees as well as to support public measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.
In a post on its Facebook page, the foreign mission said: “Excepting only those activities, which must be done on premises to protect life and property, the duties of US Embassy staff will be performed from their homes by teleworking.”
The Embassy noted it has instructed its staff, and is encouraging everyone, to stay at home and practise social distancing.
For those US citizen who received an automated message from the American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit informing them that their passport, federal benefits document, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad is ready for pickup, they are being asked to confirm with ACS via email at [email protected] or via phone at 600-2017 to confirm a pick-up date and time before attempting to travel to the consulate section.
This move by the Embassy comes as it is fervently working to secure another humanitarian flight to repatriate US citizens currently stranded in Guyana amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In fact, only on Tuesday, the foreign mission revealed that it was currently seeking special permission from local authorities to have a commercial relief flight next week to fly home its citizens.
While Guyana has closed its two major airports to incoming commercial flights until May 1, 2020, the US Embassy has been successful in securing special permission from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to operate four commercial relief flights to transport Americans and their families home.
In a social media post on Tuesday morning, the Embassy said: “We are requesting special permission for another commercial relief flight operated by Eastern Airlines to offer service between Georgetown and Miami early next week.”
As such, the US Embassy is encouraging its citizens as well as legal permanent residents currently in Guyana who wish to depart to consider taking this flight or otherwise prepare to shelter in place in Guyana. The Embassy said it would not be able to offer this service indefinitely.
Those interested in next week’s flight are asked to complete an online form (the link available on the Embassy’s Facebook page and its website). Once the flight is confirmed, persons will be informed so that they can book their places.