Ghir ‘disappointed’ with Fly Jamaica remarks

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Ramesh Ghir said it was “very disappointing and unfortunate” that a director of Fly Jamaica would choose to publicly address her concerns about drug incidents at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) without first engaging the airport authorities about such anxiety.

After months of preparation and assessments by government authorities in Guyana, Jamaica, the United States and Canada, Fly Jamaica will commence its service between Guyana and New York on September 26.

In a press release from CJIA hours after a press conference at which Director of Finance and Commerce at Fly Jamaica Roxanne Reece made her comments, Ghir said, “As Chairman of the Airport Security Committee and head of the Airport Corporation I can safely say that no such concern was ever raised with us; not even at the level of the Board of Directors.”

He continued, “We will be happy to engage the staff and directors of Fly Jamaica to address any security related questions that they may have.” He said that the airport’s corporation and its security committee remain steadfast about continuously working with its stakeholders to improve passengers’ experience.

“We remain very excited and look forward to Fly Jamaica getting on board,” said Ghir.

Asked earlier yesterday about the drug trade and the many busts that occur at the airport, Reece said she would like to see a security system at the CJIA that is more efficient and reliable. “Of course it is all based on the salaries you pay people and the level of people that you employ. It is unfortunate that in Guyana we have so many issues with drug smuggling. We are making all effort to try to make sure that we don’t have those problems,” Reece said.