-during table-top exercise
PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds on Friday attended a ‘Table Top’ exercise facilitated by the Maritime Safety Administration Department (MARAD), which was aimed at strengthening the search and rescue (SAR), capacity at sea. The simulation, which was held at the Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Harbour Master’s Office, Stabroek, depicted the rescue of a vessel which was lost at sea, carrying 216 passengers, some of whom were children and the elderly.
According to MARAD Director of Maritime Safety, Stephen Thomas, the crew during the exercise successfully activated a search-and- rescue system in the various inter-agencies, using common efforts.
“The vessel which has approximately 216 passengers onboard was successfully towed to a port using a private vessel that was at Kumaka. The committee that was formed to rescue the victims also received assistance from other relevant agencies, who also mobilized medical personnel and supplies,” he said.
Thomas, while stating that the activity also addressed a number of shortcomings, assured the shipping industry that MARAD has developed a stronger search-and-rescue capacity to better assist in the event of a disaster.
Prime Minister Hinds, while lauding the efforts of MARAD, encouraged the crew to always practise their rescue skills so to be better able to respond to a disaster, whether maritime, air or land.
He said that while a disaster in Guyana might not be frequent, there is still need for practice so that in the instance of a disaster, professional, prompt and reliable assistance can be rendered to the affected.
“In meetings we have been having on SAR, it often comes up the type of high tech equipment that are available and I know we do not have that type of equipment in Guyana, but I keep stressing what we need to do and the purpose of this is do it at the best of our ability with the limited resources that are available,” Mr. Hinds said.
Mr. Hinds also stressed the need for more harmonious relationship among the different agencies and people if more is to be achieved.
While explaining that the SAR Committee was established following the loss of an areoplane over the middle Mazaruni, he encouraged the crew to always work together for the common goal of the country.
“However, I hope that these sessions will help to improve socialisation and good working relationship among peers, because with hard work a lot can be achieved,” he said.(GINA)