The Guyana government on Wednesday voiced its displeasure over the treatment American Airlines meted out to two Caribbean leaders.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves were leaving Guyana after attending the 2023 International Energy Conference and Expo.
However, Guyana’s Foreign Ministry said American Airlines refused to allow the two leaders to check in through the VIP Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
A Ministry statement observed that all government protocols were in place to facilitate their departure.
The statement also indicated that American Airlines had been written to before the two Caribbean leaders arrived in Guyana regarding the courtesies of check-in on departure from the VIP Lounge.
“The airline refused to acquiesce to the ministry’s request and insisted that the prime ministers leave the lounge to present themselves to the check-in counter,” the Foreign Ministry said.
It disclosed that the Guyana government intends to formally communicate its displeasure of this most recent action by the airline that has caused “embarrassment not only nationally, but also to our regional friends.”
The airline, for its part, said it “sincerely regrets the inconvenience” caused to the two visiting prime ministers.
Rowley and Gonsalves were travelling to Miami en route to the Bahamas for the 44th Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit which opened on Wednesday.
Dear leaders, why do you expect courtesy and respect from others when you don’t offer the same to your own people?
In my opinion, if there is reason to over write any protocol to sustain security than so be it. Ralph Gonsalves does not look very honest and could have connection in being a mule. It was a right call to make him go through the ordinary process – Good call AA.
It is with much displeasure I read such disrespectful comments from watermark and Who cares. If it was a white leader from the Caribbean you would have written otherwise. The VIP lounge do not exempt any one from security checks for your information.
WE should not accept such flagrant disrespect to our leaders from any company.
Hear the foolishness I am reading. If it was Zelensky or any other Eruopean Leaders, they would have been usher thru, we need to stop downgrading our regional leaders as if we/they are a nobody. This why we need our own regional carriers. Guyana should tell AA to get their act together or get out. The only reason they came back there was due to the fact they struck oil they wasted no time flying back there, for years they were not. Guyana can afford it, stand with who was supporting you way before oil when you had nothing and that would be the Caribbean nations.
Caribbean leaders are just a bunch of puppet .. They do not have the capacity to create the environmental to create wealth for their people. In st lucia over 80 percent of private sector workers earn 2 to 3 EC dollars an hour
That’s right. Treat them like the lying scumbags that they are. Look at how they treated their people during Covid by making people lose their jobs for wanting to maintain their right of bodily integrity.
The fact is y’all are NOT VIP!!! The ppl don’t care about y’all,the islands always have their hands stretched out begging for money from other Nations & you think the ppl will view you as VIP? SMH,now y’all know your Place,go back & try to ruin the islands with the nonsense the Americans have pushing.
@ Boyblue
Well said! People and entities need to be held accountable when they fall short. If all pre-requisite was met, and protocols was observed, this was downright discriminatory and disrespectful. I hope AA is reprimanded for this nonsense so as it never happens again.
The saying “One bad egg can spoil the remainder in the case” still stands : keep in mind the PM of the British Virgin Islands has ankle brackets and cannot leave Miami: He has since been stripped of the position. He is alleged to agree to allow tons of cocaine pass through his territory en route to Miami.
Not News.
Move on