Sparendaam plane crash…Sithe Global obligated to settle legal commitments before packing up

Sparendaam plane crash…Sithe Global obligated to settle legal commitments before packing up – Opposition

Aug 18, 2013 News

– victims still to receive compensation

By Keeran Danny and Leonard Gildarie

Now that the US developer of the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, Sithe Global, has announced its

Economist Clive Thoma

withdrawal, there are calls for the company to settle its legal obligations with victims of the April plane crash at Sparendaam which left a 69-year-old woman homeless.
Speaking at a forum on the Amaila Falls Hydropower project Friday at St. Stanislaus College, Economist Professor Clive Thomas, also called for all licences issued and agreements signed between Government and the developer to be suspended and made public.
The forum on the way forward on the project was organized by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and is part of a series on major issues, the moderator, Dr. David Hinds disclosed. Also part of the panel was Carl Greenidge, a former Finance Minister and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament.
Professor Thomas stated that he has been receiving calls that the matter of the plane crash still remains unsettled. These and other legal obligations have to be settled at the soonest, he urged.
On April 13, two men were on board the ill-fated twin-engine Piper Aztec, with registration N27-F, on a technical survey mission related to the Amaila Falls Hydropower project. Apparently, Sithe Global, responsible for managing the construction of the project, sub-contracted Digital World Mapping to conduct surveys.
The aircraft just after taking off from the Ogle Airport, crashed into Florence Tyndall’s residence and burnt a section of her neighbour Michelle Belle’s house. Tyndall escaped unharmed, but the aircraft’s owner and pilot Pierre Angiel and his passenger Canadian Scientist, Nick Dmitriev perished.
Early last month, a senior Government official informed this publication that Cabinet approved compensation for the victims. The official also said Tyndall wants Sithe Global to rebuild her house.
However, Kaieteur News understands that no money has been disbursed.

Florence Tyndall

Yesterday, both Tyndall and Belle expressed different sentiments. Belle said she is confident that Government will stand by its word and help her to renovate her house. However, her uncomfortable living condition was noticeable as it was raining when this publication visited her abode. There were about three buckets and two tubs strategically placed to collect rain water seeping through the destroyed roof.
Meanwhile, Tyndall said the matter is becoming very confusing for her. She said there are so many parties involved, yet there is no definite word as to when her house would be rebuilt. Unclear if she had spoken to a representative of Sithe Global or Digital World Mapping, Tyndall related, “My children accompanied me to meet a man and he telling me about some prefab home and I told him I don’t want that. But, he gone on vacation and he said when he come back we gone talk.”
Tyndall is not worried about Sithe Global leaving Guyana since Government “is also responsible”.
“Government still knows something about everything that happened and needs to come clean.”
Sithe Global, part of the Blackstone Group, announced its pullout from the hydro project last week saying that failure by the National Assembly to gain consensus on legislation key to the project has jeopardized financing by the Inter-American Development Bank.
The Opposition Alliance For Change voted with government to pass the legislation but APNU which controls 26 seats, voted against it.
The future of the 165-megawatts, US$858M-project slated to be constructed in Region Eight has been thrown in doubt.
The project has been mired in controversy over its cost, vagueness

Flashback: Fire engulfs Tyndall’s house.

of its financing structure and wrangling in the National Assembly.

3 thoughts on “Sparendaam plane crash…Sithe Global obligated to settle legal commitments before packing up – Opposition”

Pouderoyen Man August 18, 2013 at 10:22 am

Cathy and Nigel should see to it that this poor people get what is
due to them before Sithe Global pack their bags.
Richbird August 18, 2013 at 4:47 pm

It would be a real shame if this lady is not compensated for her loss. However sad to say it may very well end up being just that. I have no confidence in the Guyana government to ensure she gets her just due. These people have no gonad therefore they lack in testicular fortitude.
rancher August 18, 2013 at 9:25 pm

Give back the woman her house.