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Sparendaam plane crash…Compensation for victims still on the table – GCAA
By Keeran Danny
Government’s offer of compensating residents whose properties were destroyed or damaged, when an American-registered aircraft crashed in Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, in April, is still on the table.
Zulficar Mohamed, Director General of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed yesterday. Mohamed said Government is cognizant that legal matters surrounding the insurance of the plane may possibly take years to conclude, as such, it is offering both residents affected one house each.
Director General of GCAA, Zulifcar Mohamed
However, this compensation by Government would not override the payments residents would obtain from the plane’s insurance or money from Sithe Global, he added.
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.
According to Mohamed, from the inception only Belle had agreed to be compensated by Government. However, with Sithe Global pulling out of Guyana, Tyndall has agreed for Government to compensate her too.
Mohamed is confident that Sithe Global, which is an international company, would honour its obligations to compensate the residents. In fact, the GCAA would continue to communicate with the company on behalf of Tyndall and Belle, he stated.
During earlier communication with this publication when the insurance of the aircraft came under scrutiny, Brian Kubeck President of Sithe Global had said “Amaila Falls Hydro believes that insurance should cover the rebuilding /rehabilitation of the houses and we are committed to ensuring that this happens. We are greatly saddened by the loss of life and property associated with the accident and we are doing our best to ensure that the affected homeowners can rebuild”.
He stated that Amaila Falls Hydro met with the Ministry of Public Works and GCAA on May 16 and provided a full briefing of the measures being taken to investigate the incident and assist those affected by this tragedy.
“Because of the delay in settling the insurance claims, Amaila Falls Hydro has agreed to assist Atlis in establishing a fund to provide resources to the affected homeowners so they can rebuild their homes as soon as possible”, Kubeck said.
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