Coronavirus: Some 70 Guyanese stranded overseas request evacuation

Approximately 70 Guyanese have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here requesting assistance in returning home as countries around the world battle the rapid spread of the Coronavirus 2019 Disease.

Requests were filed through Embassies, Missions and Consulates in New York, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Suriname and Trinidad among others.

Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ivan Evelyn told the News Room that the National COVID019 Task Force headed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is currently in deliberations regarding the arrangements to evacuate its citizens.

To date, the Government through the Civil Aviation Authority has already granted permission for Eastern Airlines to facilitate flights of foreign nationals in Guyana who wish to return to their homeland.

Guyana initially closed its two international airports on March 19 to all incoming flights until April 2 but subsequently extended that closure to May 1.

During the closure, the Government granted permission for a chartered flight from Barbados to land at the Eugene Correia Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara on March 25 with Guyanese passengers.

There were 14 adults and three children on the flight. Some of them were students while others were on vacation.

They were stranded in Barbados for several days given the closure of airports in Guyana and Barbados as measures are implemented to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

One of the passengers arranged the charter with Trans Guyana and they pooled to pay the cost. The flight was able to enter Guyana after the passengers petitioned the Guyana Consulate in Barbados and the Civil Aviation authorities in Guyana.