THE intensive search for Laleta Sivanand, the woman who has gone missing while on a recent guided tour to the majestic Kaieteur Falls continues and has in fact been extended to other parts of the Kaieteur National Park (KNP).The team was mobilised and went into search mode after it was reported on September 1, 2015 that a woman who was part of a guided tour to KNP was found to be missing when chits for snacks were being distributed at the end of the tour.

On Thursday, a specialised group of ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) joined the search party as the search was extended to all the trails at the KNP .

Binoculars were also used to view the area below the falls and along the sides of the gorg, but the search party came up empty-handed.

A press release from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment said the search team remains hopeful that the woman will be located. The search is expected to be further intensified and, given the exigencies of this situation, tours to the KNP continue to be suspended.

Following the report that the woman was missing, a search operation was immediately launched by the National Parks Commission Rangers.  All relevant authorities including the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force and Civil Defence Commission were notified.

Meanwhile, taxi drivers, from a city taxi service with whom Laleta Sivanand used to travel told this publication that she was a frequent customer when she used to work at Laparkan Group of Companies housed at the Fogarty’s building on Water Street.

Drivers said the woman was always friendly and seemed normal, but she stopped utilising the service after she got married and stopped working.

They recalled she was never despondent and was always eager to chat on her way home. (Michel Outridge)