NEW YORK (CMC):

There is yet to be any major fallout from the alleged plot by four Caribbean-born men to blow up John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, says St. Lucia's Tourism Minister Allan Chastanet.

"I think what happened was a very unfortunate situation," said Chastanet during a town hall meeting, which forms part of activities marking Caribbean Week here.

"I think it is something we have to deal with," he added. "Ultimately, I think people recognise the hard work that West Indians have done, and Caribbean people are committed to the United States of America.

"I'm not seeing a lot of fallout as yet," he continued. "I've not gotten any phone calls, people want to cancel their trips.

"We think we just have to wait and see until all the information comes out, and what is the truth behind the whole thing," he said.

Speaking on the same podium, Chastanet's St. Vincent and the Grenadines' counterpart, Glen Beache, said "nothing has been proven yet."

'No broad generalisations'

Last week, he told the Caribbean Media Corporation that while it is too early to gauge the impact of the foiled plot, Americans should not make any broad generalisation about the region.

"It [attempted plot] might make our jobs a bit more difficult, but every country has its bad apples," he said.

"And I'm not saying these guys are bad apples because nothing has been proven in court yet," he added. "But one cannot generalise for the mistakes of a few; and that the rest of the Caribbean must suffer for it, or must pay the penalty.

"It's just not fair," he continued. "If that's the case, then many other countries would be penalised, including the United States itself."

United States authorities allege that Guyanese Abdel Nur, 67; Trinidadian Kareem Ibrahim, 61; former Guyanese legislator Abdul Kadir, 55; and Guyana-born, U.S. citizen Russell de Freitas were members of a terrorist cell that planned to attack JFK Airport, one of the United States' busiest, by blowing up major fuel supply tanks and pipelines.