State services in Guyana are mobilizing to anticipate the end of domestic air connections, previously provided by the company Air Guyane.
From October 2, Air Guyane flights could stop
Antoine Poussier, the prefect of Guyana, announced preventive measures this Wednesday. They were taken in consultation with State services, the Territorial Collectivity of Guyana in charge of internal services and with the association of mayors.
We verified our ability to carry out minimum missions, missions with security issues. That is to say the missions of medical evacuation, medical transport, supply of food and medicine for all the municipalities in the interior. This seemed necessary to us, without prejudging the court’s decisions, but to be ready to carry out essential missions, by air, for the benefit of Guyanese in the interior.
State aircraft and helicopters from private companies will be used
For the moment, two decisions have been taken, announced the prefect: “coordinate all the needs that could be expressed in terms of essential missions by the mayors” and “use all available means”.
The CTG would notably consider chartering planes. Also, all State aircraft, to the extent of their availability, may be used. They will be able to transport goods and people. Guyana’s two private helicopter companies will also be used.
They are already for medical evacuations, they will also be for medical transport and it was the general director of the Regional Health Agency who confirmed to me that until the end of October, in the health field, it was able – thanks to these private means – to carry out all the missions which fall within its competence.
The judgment expected this Friday
As a reminder, on September 21, the Pointe-à-Pitre Mixed Commercial Court examined three takeover offers from the CAIRE group (Interregional Express Airline), owner of Air Antilles and Air Guyane. The judgment will be rendered on September 29
Two proposals would still be in the running:
- That of CAFOM (French purchasing center for overseas territories) which would take over all West Indian and Guyanese destinations and 194 employees out of the current 296;
- That of the CIPIM, supported by the Collectivity of Saint-Martin, which is partial and is interested in West Indian services and the maintenance of 120 positions out of the 218 existing.
