Dear Editor,
As a background to this letter, let me reiterate that I was among the many that supported the strategic move by the PPP/C administration to put in place new leadership in the army. For me the old guard was too contaminated and devoid of new ideas and therefore it was most opportune to facilitate new direction and leadership to the army and they continue to receive my full support notwithstanding the Bell 206 brouhaha.
I have read carefully the comments the new Chief of Staff made and want to give him the benefit of the doubt since time is the only test of the facts and his integrity on this matter and come next year, he can rest assured that I, among many, will re-evaluate whether these machines have provided value for money to the taxpayers of Guyana. As I said before the deal is done so let us put these machines to work.
However, I take umbrage at the Commodore’s remark when he said “The degree to which we consult with experts in the helicopter industry, or the aviation industry for that matter, is the business of the GDF and not the fantasy of acid critics.”
How dare a public servant take the liberty to spend the taxpayers money and then in the same breath tell them that this procurement is the business of the GDF. Need I remind the Commodore that the GDF is not a self financing institution but a drain on the treasury and as such its action must be sanctioned by the taxpayers, whether by way of the press or by way of the Parliament. But I will excuse this untenable comment as due to newness in the hot seat in the GDF.
Recognizing that the Commodore consulted his experts, I was surprised that he made a statement that the airframe time for the Bell 206 aircraft is unlimited once the requisite inspections are done. Well we all know that an airframe is useless unless it has a working engine (case in point the Russian helicopters that were sitting at the Army Hangar). The highest risk lies in the engine and once the Government release funds in a timely manner, the engine can be maintained and the machines can be functional for a long time. However, we must be aware that the domestic terrorists have high powered weapons. Did our experts assess the capability of these machines to withstand rapid ground fire? I rest my case, only time will tell.
Yours faithfully,
Sasenarine Singh
