The abandoned twin-engine Cessna aircraft found just off the Yupukari Airstrip on Tuesday last
Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Edward Collins will today be sworn in by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to investigate, examine, advise and report on all the circumstances under which a foreign aircraft – discovered near the village of Yupukari, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on September 13, 2016 – entered the country.
President David Granger had mandated that a Commission of Inquiry be established to carry out the investigations. According to a missive from the Ministry of the Presidency, a preliminary report will be expected to be submitted on October 17, 2016 and the final report on November 16.
Based on reports from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the discovery was made following information received by a Joint Services patrol, including ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), on September 13. The following day, ranks of the GDF and GPF visited the area and conducted a search, finding the twin-engine Cessna aircraft.
Subsequently, a team of investigators from the GDF, GPF, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was deployed from Georgetown to conduct further investigations. A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that investigators had been conducting assessments of the abandoned aircraft to gather evidence, which would assist in uncovering the circumstances under which it came to be abandoned at that location.
In fact, a team of high-level officials led by CANU head James Singh and GCAA officials ventured into the area to further assess the aircraft in terms of damage and capabilities and to make recommendations on what should be done with it. According to information, a leak was discovered in the fuel tank. This, investigators believe, may have caused the aircraft to land in Guyana.
However, during interviews with nearby residents, investigators were told that the aircraft had been sighted circling the area on numerous occasions. Moreover, the residents, a number of whom shared information on what they deemed ‘suspicious activity, further reported the presence of motorcycles in the area. To this end, CANU officials are seeking to determine whether the aircraft may have any links to the narcotics trade. Additionally during a search of the aircraft, several pieces of communication equipment were discovered and have been removed for further examination.
