RANKS of the Guyana Defence Force Special Forces continued to struggle yesterday to retrieve the body of Kaieteur National Park tourist Laleta Sivanand who went missing two weeks ago, and was located and secured on Monday.
Late yesterday afternoon the Guyana Chronicle was informed that the woman’s remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, preventing the Special Forces team from properly retrieving it and placing it into a body bag. As a result, the body remained at the base of the falls.
Meanwhile, there was much anxiety among family members who had expected that her remains would have been brought to Ogle International Airport yesterday, and then an autopsy would have been performed.
On Monday the woman’s husband said the family had hoped that she would have been found alive, despite reports that she had plunged to her death.
On Monday evening also the Ministry of the Presidency confirmed that the GDF Special Forces had located and secured the body which was found in a rocky area at the base of the falls. The body was spotted late Saturday afternoon by a National Parks ranger at a spot that was submerged previously because of the high water level.
Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman on Sunday indicated to the Guyana Chronicle that the Government, through the relevant agencies, would try its best to ensure that the remains were brought out of the area to allow the family to afford the woman the final rites.
Sivanand reportedly plunged to her death during a tour at the Kaieteur National Park that was organised by Air Services Limited. A search operation was launched immediately after the woman was discovered missing from among the other tourists.
According to reports, the woman did not indicate to her relatives that she was going to the location and only after she was reported missing that contact was made with them and they became aware that she had gone on such a tour. Persons on the flight said that she was crying and appeared to be distressed.
Meanwhile, the ministry has expressed sympathy to the family of Sivanand and thanked all the officials and agencies that supported the work of the Guyana Police Force and the GDF during the search and recovery exercise.