THE LONG delays and security hassle now being experienced by Guyanese and other travellers at Cheddi Jagan International Airport are also problems being faced at other airports in the Caribbean as a direct consequence of the September 11 attacks on the USA by terrorists.

It is to be hoped that these difficulties can be short-lived. But even the most optimistic scenarios rule out such a possibility while America is engrossed in its plans to “strike back”, wherever and in what manner it chooses.

The best that can perhaps be looked forward to is that the US aviation and related authorities will do everything possible to cooperate with the airport authorities and airlines of this country and its Caribbean neighbours to minimise, as much as possible, the discomfort that travellers are currently facing.

It is also in the interest of American's own air transport sector to keep under constant review the need to reduce the problems, including new check-in time and baggage-handling requirements for travellers, as they are contributing to the losses being experienced by the international air transport industry with the significant drop in business.

The understanding and cooperation of the travelling public are most essential at this difficult period. But this must also be forthcoming from the airline and airport officials and security personnel. One hand can't clap.

Too often, functionaries only succeed in complicating matters by their over zealousness to exercise authority, even when not equipped either by experience or training, rather than trying to be pleasant and helpful.

Local Initiatives
What needs to be done at the local level, as being discussed for action in other Caribbean jurisdictions, is for the re-orientation of ALL personnel concerned with overseas commercial flights on how to lessen the tension and burden of travellers, to be reassuring and flexible as possible, instead of being uncooperative or, worse, hostile.

The police, airport security personnel, airline employees, customs and immigration officials, travel agents all have a role to play in seeking to ease the problems of this difficult period, knowing that today's onerous requirements will have to be reviewed and changed.

So far as the specific issue of security is concerned, it is understandable why the new emphases are being placed on ticketing and aircraft-boarding identification and scrutiny of carry-on luggage. Here again, attitude is of the importance, requiring enlightened utilisation of time and civility in treating with passengers.

Perhaps these and related matters should be discussed at a specially-convened meeting of representatives of the air transportation and tourism sectors as well as from the security services. We urge the government to take the initiative in this matter, the earlier the better.

We also appeal to the US aviation authorities not to be too rigid, or unilateralist in the enforcement of requirements of commercial flights to America originating from national airports like ours and other CARICOM states.

It would be a most horrendous problem if, in confirming to what the USA may now be demanding, all travellers from every corner of the globe should be treated as potential terrorists.