Flight access issues continue

The Guyanese Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issued on the 4th February termination letters to air traffic controllers who refused to return to work by the end of 3 February. The striking airport workers were given an ultimatum to return to work by that date or face dismissal. Officials claimed that the strike was illegal, and announced that they will soon be hiring new air traffic controllers. The air traffic controllers began the strike over the GCAA's refusal to increase their salaries by 5 percent. The GCAA claims it does not have the funds necessary to meet these demands. Due to a lack of personnel, Guyana has canceled all flights after 1800 local time daily, and will likely be unable to resume normal operations until new air traffic controllers have been hired. As a result of the nighttime-flights ban, Caribbean Airlines, based in Trinidad, was forced to cancel all flights to and from Guyana.