Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 06, 2013 News
A Task Force established by Cabinet is examining certain aspects of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)’s handling of the American registered aircraft that crashed at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, last April.
This was confirmed by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon during an interview with this publication, on Thursday, at the Office of the President. He said that the Task Force has been in operation for months and is housed at Colgrain House, Camp Street.
In April, the American registered aircraft crashed into a Sparendaam house killing the two-man crew on board. The two were on a technical survey mission for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project. Apparently, Sithe Global, responsible for managing the construction of the project, subcontracted Digital World Mapping to conduct surveys.
The aircraft just after taking off from the Ogle Airport, crashed into Florence Tyndall’s residence and burnt a section of her neighbour, Michelle Belle’s house. Tyndall escaped unharmed but the aircraft’s owner and pilot Pierre Angiel and his passenger Canadian Scientist, Nick Dmitriev perished.
According to a source, the Task Force was established as a direct result of a letter written to President Donald Ramotar by the Aircraft Owners’ Association in May calling for the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry into the crashing of the aircraft.
The Association was also worried that the aircraft entered Guyana without proper due diligence being carried out by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The letter pointed out that GCAA should not be the body conducting the investigations since they are the subject of investigation. And the regulations provide for the President to direct the investigations.
According to a source, the Air Transport Management Department of GCAA did not inform GCAA’s Aviation Safety Department of the aircraft’s presence in Guyana. And, it was only when the plane crashed that the Aviation Safety Department became aware of the plane. GCAA’s Director General Zulficar Mohamed who is also the head of the Air Transport Management Department denied that accusation and the head of the Aviation Safety Department, Paula Mc Adam refused to comment on the matter.
According to Dr. Luncheon, the Task Force has a series of Terms of Reference that allow them on the basis of Cabinet’s instructions to investigate precisely what happened.
“Remember GCAA has a statutory obligation to investigate all aviation accidents but in addition to this statutory obligation GCAA, the Cabinet, and stakeholders felt the need to have some aspects of the handling of this matter examined,” Dr. Luncheon said.
He said Cabinet decided that the Task Force includes the GCAA to specially examine the aircraft crash.
But, according to a source, a special Task Force, chaired by Hugh Denbow was established by cabinet independent of GCAA. Denbow was the Secretary of the Commission of Inquiry into the shooting of three Linden residents in 2012.
The source said the other members of the Task Force are representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Public Works, a lawyer, and Kit Nascimento, the Aircraft Owners’ Association’s Public Relations Officer.
Prior to the interview with Dr. Luncheon, Denbow in an interview had denied that a task Force was investigating GCAA with respect to the crash. He said that a Task Force was reviewing the licensing of local aircraft and foreign ones entering Guyana’s airspace.
Jagdeo giving Exxon 102 cent to collect 2 cent.
Apr 25, 2024
By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – The French Diplomatic Office in Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association and UNICEF, hosted an exhibition on Tuesday evening at the...Kaieteur News – Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, persists in offering... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]