Emergency meeting called to discuss dangerous presence of birds in the Timehri area
MINISTER of  Transport and Hydraulics Mr. Robeson Benn  met with stakeholders of the Livestock Industry at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, yesterday. The meeting was summoned in the wake of a bird strike incident involving a Caribbean Airlines Passenger Jet with 152 passengers and 6 Crew Members onboard, on Tuesday morning.

Attendees at yesterday’s meeting included representatives of CJIA Corporation, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Public Works and Communications, Guyana Poultry Producers Association, the Livestock Development Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency.

A release from the CJIA said  implications for the safety of aircraft operations by the presence of birds around the airport and in aircraft flight paths were addressed and it was agreed that a number of measures will be implemented to discourage the presence of birds in the Timehri/Soesdyke areas.

These measures include sensitization of livestock farmers on the dangers and impact of bird strikes and mitigating actions that can be taken to prevent birds getting within close proximity of the airport.

One such action proposed was the disposal of waste materials in an environmentally friendly and safe manner. A cull of the birds is also being contemplated.

Stakeholders were informed that the bird strike occurred approximately four miles from the airport in the vicinity of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway at about 3000 ft in the air while the aircraft was still ascending.

The CJIA Corporation said it will organize a working group comprising stakeholders to facilitate implementation and monitoring of the agreed measures.