(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)
SWIMS Regatta
(THE Guyana Chronicle: October 10, 1986)
SWIMS Club Regatta, Coverden, East Bank Demerara Sunday October 26. Spectacular opening ceremony; parade of boats, aircraft fly pass. Fun for the family . 10:00am.  Be early! Local kayak & paddle boat races; water skiing; speed boat races; improved spectator and picnic facilities; light liquor; ice cream and food bars. Adults: $10; Children: $5.

Baby mix-up at Georgetown Hospital
(The Guyana Chronicle: November 6, 1986)
POLICE have been called in to help unravel the mix-up of two babies at the Georgetown Hospital, and reports that one of the children had either been sold or given away to a mother.
Two Nurses and several other hospital employees have been interviewed, and police discount reports that a baby, which has since been recovered, had been sold for $6000 and gifts.
The bizarre case began in May this year when two mothers of the same race gave birth to two baby boys on the same day.
One mother, who had registered under a false name and address, left the hospital without her child, while the other’s baby died.
The mother of the dead baby became depressed and kept weeping that she had to take home a baby to her husband.
It is alleged that sympathetic hospital employees suggested that she take home the abandoned baby.
Police and hospital authorities are baffled by two features of the case: How, in view of strict security at the hospital, a baby could be taken out of the hospital.
The theory now is that the woman was briefed about the name to give, and the name of the baby.
The Police have closed their investigations, and the matter is now being taken up Departmentally.

Police probe death of woman
(The Guyana Chronicle: December 12, 1986)
THE POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Johanna DoSantos,  a woman in her early 20s, of No. 29 Village, West Coast Berbice who died on Boxing Day.
According to Police, DoSantos died from injuries she is alleged to have received on Christmas night.
A man has been taken into custody, and is assisting the police in their inquiries.

Cessna 206 missing on Interior flight
-Two on board
(The Guyana Chronicle: November 28, 1986)
A CESSNA-206 aircraft with experienced bush pilot and aviation pioneer, George Grandsoult, and passenger, Emile Khan on board has been reported missing near Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni),  the Civil Aviation Department (CAD)said yesterday.
Reports state that the Cessna aircraft departed the Ogle Aerodrome at 10h53 Wednesday on its way to Kamarang with cargo.
Air traffic controllers said they were in contact with the aircraft up to 11h57, just about eighteen minutes before it should have landed at Kamarang.
CAD Officials described weather conditions as extremely rough all day Wednesday.
An initial search-and-rescue operation involving the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) aircraft from Ogle and the Guyana Airways Wednesday afternoon failed to turn up any clues about the aircraft and its occupants.
Grandsoult, 62, a pilot of more than 20 years experience with an accumulated log of 14,000 flying hours has been described as a capable and veteran jungle pilot by fellow flyers and others in the aviation world.
The CAD has said that although it was able to mount a more systematic search yesterday, it was unable to locate the aircraft in the vast Mazaruni jungle.
The search continues today.

Buccaneer Cove
(The Guyana Chronicle: December 28, 1985)
The Buccaneer Cove, New Market Street, Christmas Holiday Diary.
Old Year’s Nite: Disco Sounds
Admission: $40 per person.

Search for missing Cessna called off
(The Guyana Chronicle: December 7, 1985)
THE SEARCH for the missing Cessna-206 aircraft with pilot, George Grandsoult and passenger, Emile Khan has been halted after 11 days.
Various Divisions, including the Special Forces of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Timehri Rescue Co-ordination Centre and the Venezuelan Rescue Co-ordination Centre participated in the search.
Director of Civil Aviation, Anthony Mekdeci reported yesterday that probing of the high probability area for five days and nights by nearly 100 ground patrols of the GDF failed to produce any clues of the aircraft or its occupants.
Heavy and medium-lift helicopters also supported the search by combing the area at tree-top level.
The aircraft, piloted by Grandsoult, is believed to have crashed on Wednesday November 26 in the Kamarang-Mazaruni area shortly before it was scheduled to land at Kamarang with cargo.
The pilot reported to flight information that he was descending below 2500 feet in very poor weather through a gorge, and then contact was lost.
About half-an-hour later, the Timehri Rescue Co-ordination Centre started search-and- rescue operations, but the four days of intensive air search which followed failed to locate any clues.
The initial exercise was undertaken by all the private commercial operators in the country, as well as the GuySuCo Aircraft Department, the GDF Air Corps and the Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC).
Assistance in the search by the Venezuelan Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which conducted a similar exercise on the Venezuelan border, also proved futile.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport has directed the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to mount a full inquiry into the disaster, and file a report within 60 days.
The CAD has acknowledged the willing cooperation and support exhibited by all concerned during the emergency exercise.

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)