Dear Editor,

I work for a travel agency in Toronto, Canada and have been vigorously promoting my homeland to vacationers vis a vis the call by the GOG to increase tourism. I however have been getting some negative feedback about the approach and service of the customs officials at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. The feedback is that they are not very friendly and since they are the primary interaction tourist encounter when arriving in Guyana it sets the tone for the rest of their stay.

I was reliably informed by car rental agencies in Guyana that a local driver’s permit can be obtained at the Guyana Airport from the customs department. However, tourists are being denied this request upon arrival and directed into the main office in Georgetown.

If the GOG wishes to increase tourism, it is vitally important that they ensure that they coach the airport customs staff to be compliant with incoming passengers’ requests to obtain the local driver’s permit. Sometimes passengers arrive on the weekend or holidays and need the permit immediately to pick up their rental cars.

Yours faithfully,
Shameer Ali