THE aviation fraternity in Guyana is mourning the passing of former Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) board chairman, Hugh Denbow, who died on Monday after he was hospitalised following a home invasion.

Reports are that Denbow was found tied-up at his home in North Sophia over the weekend. He was found in an unconscious state with his hands, feet and neck tied together with several shirt ties. It is unclear how long he was in that position. He was taken to the Georgetown Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he died while being treated on Monday night.

When news broke of the man’s death on Monday night, many who worked with him reacted in shock. He was an expert in airline management for years and has worked as a consultant with the GCAA for some time. GCAA Director General, Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Egbert Field, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that Denbow was always willing to offer support and advice to the aviation body even after his stint as board chair ended.

After Denbow’s stint as chair ended, he worked along with the body as a consultant until early in 2018 when he assumed another job. Field said during the time Denbow was chair of the GCAA, he was able to contribute to the body’s development and under his watch as chair, the body made several important decisions to ensure aviation in Guyana continues in the right direction.

He said many things needed to be done at the time and Denbow started the process to ensure training and development, among other things, were undertaken to further advance the GCAA. “He was a very knowledgeable individual, he was very talented, very learned and it’s a pity that he had to go at this time when there is so much he could have offered to the aviation community,” Field said. Field said that Guyana “is poorer for having lost such a son of the soil,” as he extended condolences to the family of Denbow.
Police are investigating the man’s death.