Acquisition of Bell 412EPI helicopter boosts Guyana’s security – Army Chief

…President Ali pledges more resources to enhance GDF’s capabilities

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps’ capabilities were improved with the acquisition of the Bell 412EPI helicopter which landed in Guyana on Saturday.
GDF’s Chief of Staff Godfrey Bess said that the new helicopter is a significant moment for Guyana’s defence and security architecture. He added that it is significant as the nation continues to press on in the face of deliberate acts of aggression from neighbouring Venezuela.

“It is an important moment which will result in enhanced delivery of service to the nation, particularly as it relates to aviation security… In terms of [the] nation’s security, this is a significant tool to enhance the effectiveness of security and Joint Services operation. It will also allow us to have a substantial presence in assisting with the surveillance security of our offshore operations and our fisheries zones and also our vast remote land space. This aircraft is a national asset,” Bess said.
He reminded that just about a month ago, President Irfaan Ali at the Officers’ Conference clearly defined his vision for the transformation of Guyana’s defence and security architecture. He had informed that the plan will be in a systematic area which will enhance all areas of competency.
“With this air asset, there will be enhanced support to the nation. Operationally, we will be able to conduct long-range area reconnaissance, engage in swifter troop movement and insertion into our far-flung regions, perform casualty evacuation, medical evacuation, search and rescue mission and training,” he said.

Investments, enhancements
Meanwhile, President Ali said Guyana has been continually making investments in human resources, adding that his Government will continue to invest in the training, upgrading and development of the human asset.
“With this acquisition (of the helicopter) comes a new era of training and upgrading era of development. It brings, with it, new potential, new capacity and these are things we have to celebrate too. We have spent a lot of resources in upgrading our human resources to take care of these assets and to ensure that we move towards a modern pool of capital acquisition that will improve our efficiency and enhance our national security,” he explained.
President Ali also announced that on Monday, a team will depart Guyana to inspect the performance of the metal sharp and to analyse the various marine asset options Guyana has, with the aim of moving towards the acquisition of new marine assets to support our work of the Coast Guard.
Speaking at a simple ceremony at Base Camp Ayangana, the Commander in Chief said that there is need to analyse the new requirements of the security systems based on the developmental path. He explained that Guyana has a lot more economic assets to protect while alluding to the impending development that comes with Guyana becoming an oil-producing nation. Additionally, the President said that being prepared for the security challenges requires a modern forward-looking security architecture and that is what his Government is working on building.
He also expressed gratitude to the United States and Bell Helicopters for the partnership in supporting the enhancement of Guyana’s national security capabilities.
“We realise and we know that our defence architecture has to be supported by the best diplomacy and the greatest of partnerships. We have to have partnership, we have to recognise also that we have to have trusted partners, it is very important in our defence,” Ali told the gathering.
The President said that the Air Corps has the capability to maintain the new helicopter not because they are just responsible but because they have been trained to ensure that the assets they are provided with are properly maintained.
“To the people of Guyana, we should all be proud today that we are a step closer in giving our army the tools to become more effective, more proactive and more efficient in their job. Sometimes we are very harsh… Our constraints must be understood by the population then they would have a greater appreciation for the acquisition of these assets,” Ali said.

Enhancing Air Corps’ fleet
Flight Operations Manager at the Air Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Mohinder Ramjag said that the addition of the Bell 412EPI is a testament to the President’s commitment to strengthen the nation’s security. He said that the improvement of the nation’s security can positively impact economic growth, stability and development.

The Bell 412EPI is termed a dual-use helicopter. It is a platform that has been designed by Bell Helicopters USA in compliance with regulatory standards that can satisfy both civilian and military use with only minimal adjustment. It is primarily a medium-lift helicopter and is well adapted for operation in harsh and demanding environments.

Bell 412EPI most suitable
Colonel Courtney Burns – the Air Corps’ Aviation Manager and member of the team that spearheaded the purchase – related that after intensive studies and research, it was concluded that the Bell 412EPI is the most suitable.
“After extensive discussion and negotiation, the Bell 412EPI was decided as the most suitable aircraft. There was due diligence at every stage of this process. It was manufactured in 2018 and at the time when we inspected the helicopter, it had only flown the hours required to take it from the factory to the bell facility in Tennessee.
He added that the Bell Helicopter Customer Advantage Programme – which acts as insurance – was also aggressively negotiated and signed by the team. It means that Bell – the original manufacturer of the helicopter – will be readily available to provide assistance with maintenance and source parts for the chopper whenever the need arises. This provides for fast repairs and shorter downtime.
The aircraft was purchased in January and was received by a team of GDF pilots and engineers in February. (G2)