Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, Minister of Public Works and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn and Members of the National Search and Rescue Committee, at the ‘Table Top’ Search and Rescue Exercise, at the Air Traffic Control Tower, Timehri.

analyze and improve the current Search and Rescue Plan, at the Air Traffic Control Tower, Timehri. 

This exercise was called for by President Jagdeo, after negative remarks were carried in the media regarding a United States registered Beech King Aircraft, registration number N87V, which went missing over Guyana’s interiors in November, 2008, while conducting geophysical surveys.

Prime Minister Hinds lauded the members of the Committee for proactively responding to this call and for making constructive contributions towards the development to the existing Search and Rescue Plan. He disclosed that the Committee began working to upgrade the plan since late last year and has progressed to the table top exercise.

He stated that even though these accidents occur rarely, it is important to be coordinated as a team to efficiently execute the search and rescue.  Additionally, he pointed out that the density of Guyana’s forests makes it very difficult for rescue teams to pinpoint a crash site. 

Minister Benn said that this exercise will enable the Committee to hone their skills, so that requisite responses can be made when the need arises. He noted that each of the cases that Guyana has seen so far is different from the other. As such, this type of exercise presents an opportunity to analyze the best range of approaches to different situations and to find the fastest way to provide effective assistance.

Director General, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Zulficar Mohamed, pointed out that the Civil Aviation Search and Rescue Plan is inherent in the strategy that was discussed in the exercise. He said that the exercise enacted a scenario of a response that would follow for a crash site in the vicinity of Kato to Mahdia.

The exercise allowed for all members of the Committee to make constructive criticisms in an effort to develop the original plan.

Director, Air Navigation Services, Arti Heeralall, said that the manual includes the procedures that have to be taken during the operations, and this exercise is one of the requirements, as it allows for the testing of the effectiveness of the procedures, to see where and how they can make improvements.  (GINA)