TRINIDAD-American Airline’s apologies to Prime Minister Rowley over an incident in Guyana

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – American Airlines has extended its “sincerest apology” to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who, together with his St. Vincent and the Grenadines counterpart, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, became the latest high-level officials to fall victim to the airline’s policy as they were leaving Guyana earlier this month.

The Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the airline had refused to allow the two prime ministers in Georgetown attending the 2023 International Energy Conference and Expo to check in through the VIP Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The Foreign Ministry said the Guyana government had previously protested this position taken by American Airlines against its high and senior government officials but without success.

In a February 20 letter, American Airlines Managing Director International Government Affairs, Robert Wirick, offered his “sincerest apology for not proactively approving the request for expedited treatment and the inconvenience caused during your departure from Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

“We sincerely regret that we fell short of your expectations while traveling from Guyana to Miami to connect on a flight to The Bahamas for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit,” he wrote.

“America greatly treasures the relationship with you and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. We will strive to ensure that your future travels on our airline are pleasant and exceed your expectations. America prides itself on delivering a high level of respect and service that our customers deserve. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns,” Wirick said in the letter.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Gonsalves told radio listeners in his homeland that he is not one to be “easily offended and disrespected” and that “first of all, nobody forced me to do anything.”

He recalled that he and Rowley were inside the VIP lounge “early” on the morning of their departure.

It was (as) we were going to Miami and then to the Bahamas, and the Chief of Protocol came and said that the people doing the check-in at AA requested that we come there so that they could identify the face of the passport. That’s what I understand. So I said, ‘Fine. Keith, let’s go.’

Gonsalves said that they stood a short distance from the counter, and after being told that the protocol details had been completed, he left the area.

“Nobody asked anything. I just put up. Keith and I stood up, talking. Nobody asked us anything. So what was required was visual identification.

“The only inconvenience is that I drank black coffee earlier that morning. It was cold when I got back, and I just had to get another one. I understand the government of Guyana has some problems because of how AA deal with them. I could understand the government of Guyana raising it from the standpoint of how heads of government may be treated or whoever.

“I don’t know the whole history. I understand there’s something there, but it’s the first time AA ever requested me anywhere to come and turn up at the counter when I travel as Prime Minister,” Gonsalves said.

While he agreed what occurred in Guyana was “unusual,” Gonsalves said he wanted to make it clear that “I am not knocking the Guyana government. I am saying they have their history with them, and there’s an issue which they’re taken up … to clarify, but I personally, as Ralph, was no sweat off my nose”.