US embassy reports security threat to Caribbean Airlines

The American embassy in Georgetown Guyana has issued a notice to its citizens and others planning to travel to the United States on Monday February 10 that they should not use the services of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) because of "unconfirmed threat information" against the Trinidad and Tobago airline.

The Associated Press (AP) quoted CAL's Guyana representative as saying that the airline has elevated "our level of security involving the police, the military and other agencies."

Carl Stuart told the news agency, "We have been on this since Friday. We are on top of this and flights will continue as normal, but we are taking no chances."

In 2007, a former member of Guyana's parliament and a naturalized U.S. citizen from Guyana were among four people convicted of participating in a failed plot by a small group of militant Muslims to firebomb John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/sm2914.html

The notice of the threat to CAL is published in the embassy's webpage under the heading "Emergency Messages".

The full notice is reproduced below:

The Embassy has received unconfirmed threat information relating to Caribbean Airlines flights destined for the United States departing on Monday, February 10, 2014.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy advises all U.S. Citizens in Guyana traveling on Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to the United States from Monday, February 10 through Wednesday, February 12, 2014, to make alternate travel arrangements.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Guyana enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy.

Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Guyana. For additional information, refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" on the State Department's website.

Contact the U.S. Embassy for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

The U.S. Embassy in Georgetown is located at 100 Duke & Young Streets, Kingston, Georgetown. During regular business hours you may call (592) 225-4900/9 Ext. 4222. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy is (592) 623-1992.

Editor's note 11-Feb. 2014: 
THE CAL FLIGHT MADE IT TO NEW YORK WITHOUT INCIDENT