Joint Services probing another illegal aircraft/airstrip
Joint Service ranks are probing yet another suspected illegal airstrip in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), according to Regional Chairman Brian Allicock.
Additionally, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said that several Police Officers have been transferred from the Region as the authorities investigate the recent illegal airstrip/aircraft discovery in North Rupununi.
Allicock told Guyana Times that authorities have received several reports that over a period of time a number of aircraft have been seen circling and landing at a suspected illegal airstrip in the Parabara Savannah in South Rupununi. He noted that following the reports a team comprising ranks from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force ventured into the area to investigate.
“The area is very far from there and it’s thick jungle and vast savannah land so that is why it is taking so long…it’s over 100 miles from here so we are waiting until they get here,” Allicock added.
Reports indicate that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is in receipt of information, which indicates that an unidentified aircraft was spotted overhead in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) several days ago.
Reports are that a pilot attached to a domestic airline at Ogle was flying from the Kaieteur Falls airstrip to the coastland, when an aircraft was spotted. A report was made and it was noted that air traffic control had no knowledge of any additional traffic in the vicinity. The incident is being investigated.
Only recently, an illegal Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft was found in North Rupununi on an illegal airstrip. Documents found in the aircraft appeared to have come from Brazil and Colombia.
Responding to the possibility of Police collusion, Minister Ramjattan said that several ranks have been transferred from the area, but noted that that did not mean that they were guilty of any wrongdoing.
“In the Disciplined Forces, we move around people and the fact that certain things happen sometimes we move around people. Not because they are involved, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they are involved, but, yes, some people have been moved. The investigation is ongoing and I don’t want to jump to any conclusions before that is completed,” he said.