Dear Editor,
I was indeed saddened by the destruction of the Umana Yana by fire, not only because of the national and historic significance of that once magnificent structure, but also because I was one of the pilots who flew a group of the Wai Wai Amerindians from the deep south of Guyana to the coastland for the construction of that edifice.
I checked my log book for 1972 and it is recorded that on the 25th May, I was assigned to be the co-pilot of the late Captain Guy Norman Spence for the mission to Konashen. The village of Konashen is located 315 nautical miles south of the CJIA. It is also 105 nautical miles south/south-east of Lethem and just 90 nautical north of the equator. Konashen was the furthest airstrip to the south in the Guyana Airways domestic route structure.
It was the midst of the rainy season and I vividly recall that the weather that day for most of the route was most challenging. Furthermore, there was no chance of receiving signals from any navigational facilities when flying south of the Kanuku Mountains. (GPS in those days was unheard of) Captain Spence piloted and navigated the De-Havilland Caribou aircraft, 8R-GDO, with meticulous accuracy and got us overhead Konashen in two hours and twenty minutes. We then landed on the short,wet, grass runway in conditions of light continuous rain. After off-loading the supplies we took in, about twenty passengers boarded the aircraft for the northbound trip, which took two hours and twenty-five minutes.
As our passengers disembarked at the Timehri International Airport, they aroused considerable interest and curiosity from the spectators. The WaiWais had travelled to the coastland clad in their traditional village attire and speaking their own language.
On behalf of all Guyanese, I express belated thanks to the Wai Wais who participated in the construction of that imposing structure which was unique in the capital city. I also recognize and thank the other members of the Wai Wai who were assigned to the restoration work in 2010.
Yours faithfully,
Lloyd H Marshall
