Following back-to-back discoveries of illegal aircraft and airstrips in Guyana’s hinterland regions, Government is formulating a National Border Security Plan – inclusive of satellite imagery, high-tech aircraft field sensors, and an integrated network of spies – to address national security issues affecting Guyana.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said President David Granger was in Lethem
The twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft that was discovered
and had discussions with officials on the ground in furtherance of this proposed plan.
Detailing the modus operandi of drug traffickers, Minister Harmon said they are able to set up landing strips in the Savannah region because the mostly flat terrain expedites their work. However, a plan of action designed to secure the borders is on the way.
He said that while some parts of this proposed plan have been put on the back burner, others have been a work in progress, in that some recommendations from the 2016 Commission of Inquiry into the discovery of another illegal aircraft near
One of the dugout trenches that were found west of Santa Fe
Yupukari in Region Nine have already been introduced.
“The immediate ones we actually took into consideration, and some of the steps that we took were that: we increased the level of police command in the area; we introduced a system of regular patrolling in the region, and those patrols move from one base, in this case Lethem, to another base, so that the area between those two bases is covered by vehicle patrols and, in some cases, horse patrols. Secondly, we reactivated the operations of the Regional Intelligence Committees,” Harmon stated.
He explained that the Regional Intelligence Committees comprise members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF); the locals; the toshaos; members of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC), and other Government officers in the region.
Harmon related that as a result of this system, information is shared on a weekly and sometimes fortnightly basis. This information, he noted, is also conveyed to the National Security Committee. Probed further, Harmon also revealed that satellite imagery was something being looked at to clamp down on illegal aircraft and air strips.
“But we are going to take any necessary step to ensure that our land, air and sea space is protected, and that we are given advanced notice, wherever possible, about any incursions in those areas,” he assured.
Long term plans
The Minister also shared aspects of a long-term plan, the implementation of which would be guided by financial and other factors. A major aspect of this plan, according to the Minister, is to encourage residents to report to the network any suspicious activity detected. And as it turns out, the use of technology will play a large part.
“On a longer term, the intention basically is to cover those areas by aerial activity — by the use of drones; by the use of fixed wing aircraft on a regular basis, so that you can have a better understanding as to what is happening in between the fixed locations of the police and the army.
“As a result of this, we are likely to see some additional type of deployment in that area from the GDF,” he predicted. “We are also looking at the technology which you use to ensure that if there is an (aircraft) landing, the vibrations which take place can be communicated. These are technological things we are exploring.”
Last Sunday, a twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft was discovered in Region 9. It is currently registered to Banco Brandesco –one of Brazil’s largest banks. No trace of narcotics was found on the plane, but identification cards of Venezuelan and Brazilian nationals were discovered on board.
An illegal airstrip was also unearthed about five kilometres west of Santa Fe, Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) by members of the Guyana Defence Force on August 5.
