Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 14, 2015 News
– search efforts could soon end
By Zena Henry
Today marks 17 days since search efforts begun for the missing Air Services Limited (ASL) Britten Norman Islander that went missing over the Mahdia Region Eight jungle. To date there has been absolutely no sign of the missing craft which was carrying pilot, 27-year-old Nicky Persaud and cargo loader, 51-year-old David Bisnauth.
However at some point, rescue coordinators will have to decide whether they will continue with search efforts. Head of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Zulphicar Mohamed said yesterday that, that issue will therefore be up for decision in a couple of days.
At a special press conference held on December 31, last year, the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) which is leading operations had stated that the critical 72-hour search period for the plane’s crew had expired. It was stated however, that search efforts would continue as long as resources permitted.
At the time, the body which comprises the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the GCAA among others was reluctant to give a time period in which they hoped to recover the missing plane. They were also reluctant to disclose the price tag that came with rescue efforts.
However, Mohamed said yesterday that search efforts were moving into its third week and a decision would have to be taken on when to call it quits. He opined however that searches are currently ongoing and discussions will first have to be undertaken before any such decision is made.
He said several leads have been followed since the December 28 disappearance of the twin–engine aircraft. However, one more lead is being perused in the same North Fork/Black Water area where it suspected that the plane may have gone down minutes after leaving the mining village for Karisparu.
ASL manager Annette Arjoon-Martins stated yesterday that any decision to discontinue search efforts will be done following discussions at the RCC level, since the search for the craft has been a collaborative effort.
Rescue coordinators have stated however that ground and air searches continue in the densely forested and mountainous region. The geographic location of search efforts has been the greatest challenge for workers who also have to keep an eye on the sporadically changing weather patterns. Mountains in that area reach heights more than 3,500 feet.
Over 50 persons are currently involved in search and rescue efforts. Recently, more manpower has been employed in search efforts as more teams have been sent into the interior location to search for the plane.
In a statement released yesterday, the RCC said that 21 Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces are currently combing through the dense jungle and treacherous terrain. The ranks are said to be in ‘three man’ teams, and were deployed to Muruwa and Siparuni River.
“After four days of aerial examinations, ground searches commenced. Apart from the Special Forces, eight Line Cutters from St. Cuthbert’s Mission, 10 Guyana Forestry Commission officers; six villagers from the Chenapau and five villagers from Karisparu have over time joined the search,” it was reported.
Extensive searches were also carried out in a large area between North Fork and Black Water rivers. In the meantime, two helicopters continue to execute aerial searches.
Rescuers say that the biggest difficulty in locating the plane is being able to access search areas since there are no roads and limited waterways that can take persons into the heavily forested area.
Kaieteur News was told that family members of the missing ASL crew remain patient, yet anxious. The father-in-law of the pilot is said to have been in Mahdia since searches commenced. The family has also been spending a lot of time at the ASL Ogle office, while a relative of the cargo handler has also been keeping contact with ASL.
Persaud had made a few interior stops before landing at Mahdia to make his way to Karisparu. He was fetching construction material that included zinc sheets. The crew left Mahdia and when the plane’s spot tracker did not hit the Air Traffic Control Centre, contact was made, but there was no response.
The plane did not make it to the intended destination.
More than nine leads came to the RCC, but none materialized. A special plane, provided by CGX, that can locate large metal masses, was also employed in the search, but it too yielded no results. The missing ASL plane was the last aviation misfortune for 2014. About seven accidents occurred last year, resulting in the death of two persons and several others being injured.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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