147 Guyanese to return from Jamaica, Cuba and Barbados on Friday

A total of 147 Guyanese stranded in Jamaica, Barbados and Cuba will be returning home on Friday on the same repatriation flight.

Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Egbert Field told the News Room Tuesday that one flight was arranged for the three countries since there is not sufficient Guyanese at any of the locations to cover the cost of the charter.

“Getting a flight to those locations is very difficult,” he said adding that the cost of the charter is US$67,000.

The Caribbean Airlines flight will be transporting 18 Guyanese passengers from Kingston Jamaica, followed by 35 persons in Havana Cuba and the remainder in Bridgetown Barbados.

The body of the late President of the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand will also be returning on this flight.

Chand died in Cuba on April 8 as a result of health complications.

The National COVID-19 Task Force on March 18 approved a request for the return of the trade unionist’s body and his wife from Cuba.

Guyana’s airports closed to international flights on March 17 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since the closure, the Government has been facilitating repatriation flights.

Passengers can get onto these flights once they have been tested negative for COVID-19 and fill out a repatriation form with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Upon arrival in Guyana, the passengers are required to isolate at home for seven days.

Persons have so far returned from the United States, Canada, Barbados and Trinidad.