The helicopter which the Trinidad government had promised to lend Guyana to assist in crime fighting efforts arrived here yesterday.
The blue and white BO 105 helicopter is to aid the efforts of the law enforcers in tracking down the bandits who cut down 23 persons in two bloody sieges.
This newspaper was reliably informed that the helicopter arrived at an airstrip at Mabaruma in the northwest where it was met by members of the Guyana Defence Force Air Corps, refuelled and then flown to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri just after 3 pm. Later in the afternoon, the helicopter touched down at army Base Camp Ayangannna.
It is not clear how soon the chopper will begin operations, but this newspaper was reliably informed that it will be flown by Trinidad pilots and members of the army air corps will provide back-up.
The Trinidad helicopter loan came after discussions between Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and his Trinidadian counterpart. The two had also agreed that Trinidad will lend Guyana a number of specialized weapons. It is not clear whether the weapons had arrived.
Caribbean reports quoted Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning as saying that the chopper would be in Guyana for a short while.
Yesterday at parliament Rohee told reporters that there were some difficulties with the procurement of weapons and having them shipped in a way that their security was not compromised.
The two recent massacres had caught the Joint Services without a helicopter for operations against the gunmen.
Meanwhile as police continue investigations into the brutal slayings at Bartica and Lusignan, the only wanted man who has since turned himself into the police, remained there yesterday since the police had requested and received from the courts an extension of his detention.
Delroy Jack known as ‘Pan Head’ had turned himself into the police last Sunday following the issuance and publications of a bulletin from Saturday.
A police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) source confirmed last evening that none of the other men has since showed up. Sources say that Jack is likely to be charged today.
Regarding investigations into the Bartica killings, a reliable police source informed this newspaper that yesterday the owner of an engine found on the abandoned boat which the gunmen may have used initially was taken in for questioning. The boat was found after the robbery some distance away from Bartica at a place called St. Mary’s. Two barrels of fuel and a camouflage coat as well as some food supplies were also discovered in the boat. It was thought that the boat was set adrift to throw investigators off the trail of the gunmen.
The other six Barticians who the police had arrested in Bartica for questioning are still in custody, the source confirmed.
Meanwhile, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that President Bharrat Jagdeo met yesterday with the relatives of civilians who were killed in Bartica on February 17. GINA said it is expected that the government will provide assistance to the victims’ families. Another meeting was also held with relatives of the policemen who were killed in the attack.
