–Min Harmon says, having served Guyana ‘extremely well’ in the past

THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is in the process of purchasing four fixed-wing aircraft, two Skyvans and two Islanders, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced Friday.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon told reporters that the reconditioned vehicles will be used by the Force to move its troops across the country.

Harmon explained that the use of the identified aircraft is not new to the GDF, as the military officers of the Air Corps have been operating these machines for many years.
“These aircraft have actually served Guyana, the conditions that we have to fly, extremely well. The GDF have a competency in both the Islander and the Skyvan, because they have operated these machines for many years,” the Minister of State said.

He said though the aircraft are reconditioned, they are in good condition. “They might both be reconditioned,” he said of the Skyvans, adding: “I don’t believe they are making new Skyvans these days, but they are very good factory-tested quality aircraft.”

At the moment, the GDF has a fully functional Skyvan, and according to the minister, the move to purchase additional aircraft is geared at providing safe aircraft for the country’s soldiers, and in other cases civilians who are transported from the city to the hinterland regions as part of the army’s search-and-rescue operations.

The aircraft will also be used to deliver items to border troops, Harmon added. The GDF has requested a total of $484, 239, 000 for the acquisition of four aircraft. Under the Agency Head of Defence and Security Support, it is explained that the GDF has already identified financing to the tune of $213, 885,000 from within its 2018 capital programme to meet the initial payments for the acquisition of the four aircraft.

The additional sums are now requested to facilitate the final payment for the aircraft.