New screening procedures for Guyana-bound CAL passengers

Last Updated on Sunday, 3 July 2016, 13:23 by Denis Chabrol

Refined screening procedures to accelerate the process for North American passengers transiting in Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport, enroute to Guyana, on Caribbean Airlines (CAL) will come into effect Wednesday, July 6, 2016, authorities said  Sunday.

Officials from CheddiJagan International Airport (CJIA) – headed by its Chairman of the Board, Stephen Fraser – and Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) recently met with CAL and Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority representatives to discuss the hassle passengers experienced while transiting in Trinidad.

Prior to the new screening process, in-transit passengers were subjected to an arduous security process causing, in many instances, them to scamper to board the connecting flight to CJIA.

However, from Wednesday a transit stamp will be placed the boarding passes of all Georgetown bound passengers for easy identification and priority processing through T&T’s security check point. Passengers who were screened in the United States of Americas and Canada will not have to remove their shoes during the rescreening exercise in Port of Spain.

However, if said passengers mix or come in contact with unscreened passengers, all transfer passengers will be subjected to the normal screening procedures.

Further, any duty free items over the 3.4 ounces will be handed over by passengers to the Transit desk and will be returned to passengers on the boarding of their flight to Georgetown.

Ramesh Ghir, CJIAC’s Chief Executive Officer said he is pleased with the new development, and commended CAL for pursing options to improve its service for Guyana passengers.