American Airlines apologises to Trinidad’s PM for alleged snub

American Airlines has written to Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, apologising for the treatment he received at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana last week.

The letter of apology, signed by the airline’s Managing Director, International Government Affairs was received on Carnival Monday.

American’s apology comes as the Guyanese Government complained that Dr Rowley and St Vincent Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves were denied the usual courtesies extended to heads of government at the airport.

Both prime ministers were in Guyana to participate in the Guyana Energy Conference and Expo 2023 and were preparing to depart Guyana for The Bahamas, via Miami, on February 15 to attend the 44th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Nassau.

Robert A Wirick’s letter to the Rowley stated: “On behalf of American Airlines, please accept my 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. We sincerely regret that we fell short of your expectations while travelling from Guyana to Miami to connect on a flight to The Bahamas for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit.”

Usual courtesies extended would allow check-in procedures to be conducted on their behalf. Instead, American Airlines insisted that Rowley and his delegation, who were in the Government-operated VIP Lounge, present themselves at the check-in counter.

The courtesies were requested by the Government of Guyana.

On being denied the courtesies, Rowley and his delegation complied with the request to present themselves at the American Airlines check-in counter to complete the procedures, without incident.

The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs noted that protocol officials from Guyana and from Trinidad and Tobago interacted with the airline staff to complete the check-in of the prime minister.

The ministry said protocol staff were professional and efficient in their handling of the matter and avoided further inconvenience or embarrassment to the prime minister. The delegation travelled to Nassau without further incident.