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GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar, is anticipating a positive outcome from his recent discussions with vice president of Surinam Airways Clyde Cairo about the airline plying the Georgetown to New York route.

The talks, which were held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on the sidelines of the 24th Inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), came in the wake of Delta Airlines announcing its intention to pull out of the Georgetown-New York route as of May, citing reasons the Guyana government have deemed irrational.

Cairo, in an invited comment subsequent to the discussion with the Guyanese head of state, was quoted as saying that there are options which the airline will examine in this regard, but that such decisions hinge on discussions at the level of the airline’s board.

Cairo is highly optimistic, however, that as early as July “we can begin servicing this route, either non-stop or via another point.”

The airline which last year re-entered the commercial skies with non-stop flights between Georgetown and Miami twice weekly, also offers connecting flights to other destinations, including Amsterdam, Brazil, the Middle East, and even China.

Asked about the 24th Inter-Sessional meeting overall, Ramotar said that it was very successful as heads were able to highlight the similarities faced with crime and security, and design a plan to coordinate efforts and activities in fighting the scourge.

The heads adopted a regional crime and security strategy which addresses many of the issues of member states and which provides a common platform from which the region could advance the fight.

A mandate was given to the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) to provide advice to member states on ways in which to treat with crime and security such as gang violence and the prevalence of armed murders.

The meeting also agreed that there must be close cooperation between IMPACS and other entities, such as the Regional Security System (RSS), Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

Attorney-General of the United States of America, Eric Holder Jr., joined the engagement of CARICOM heads and reiterated the interest of the US in focused engagement with the region on crime and security.

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