[www.inewsguyana.com] – A Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight destined for the United States from Guyana will be targeted by terrorists today, according to a threat received by the United States Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana.
The threat emanated from a telephone call from Barbados, the Express has learnt.
As a result of the threat, the US Embassy in Guyana issued an advisory warning all its citizens who intend to travel on CAL over the next three days to make “alternate travel arrangements”.
“The Embassy has received unconfirmed threat information relating to Caribbean Airlines flights destined for the United States, departing on Monday, February 10, 2014,” a release on the website of the US Embassy in Guyana stated yesterday. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy advises all US citizens in Guyana travelling on Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to the United States from Monday, February 10, through Wednesday, February 12, 2014, to make alternate travel arrangements,” the release stated. The advisory went viral on social networking sites yesterday.
Clint Williams, head of Corporate Communications at CAL, told the Express the national carrier was informed of the threat and “special security measures” are being put in place.
Williams sought to assure customers of their safety and said flights will be operated as scheduled. “Caribbean Airlines will like to advise the travelling public that we are working closely with all authorities to ensure that security protocols are followed,” said Williams.
“All Caribbean Airlines flights will operate as scheduled and we thank the travelling public for their understanding for any inconvenience at this time and special security measures will be put in place at this period,” he added.
On a daily basis, CAL has flights that leave Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown, Guyana, destined for JFK International Airport in New York.
The flights include non-stop flights between the two destinations and also a stop-over at Piarco International Airport in this country.
CAL has two direct flights today from Guyana to New York—BW524 departing Guyana at 6.05 a.m. and BW424 at 2.40 p.m.; and another—BW662/520, scheduled to depart at 10.15 a.m.—which stops over at Piarco on the way to JFK Airport.
CAL issued a release to respond to the United States’ travel advisory. “Further to the travel advisory posted by the United States Embassy in Guyana, warning to postpone travel on Caribbean Airlines, the airline wishes to assure passengers and the travelling public that specific layers of security have been added at our Guyana Airport Operations and we are working closely with all authorities to ensure appropriate security protocols are followed to ensure safe, comfortable and on-time flight departures,” the release stated. [Trinidad Express]
