Extension granted for inquiry into Colombian plane discovery

Nov 20, 2016 News

President David Granger has granted his approval to a request for an extension of time

Head of the Commission, Brigadier (retd.) Edward Collins

for the submission of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the discovery of the foreign aircraft at Yupukari, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Region Nine.
According to the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday, the request was made by Head of the Commission, Brigadier (retd.) Edward Collins.
The report, which was due to be handed over to the State on November 16, 2016, will now be handed over on November 25, 2016.
Brigadier Collins was commissioned to investigate, examine, advise and report on the circumstances under which the foreign aircraft, which was discovered on September 13, 2016, entered into the country.
Concurrent to the CoI, a Joint Services team, headed by Superintendent Hugh Denhart of the Guyana Police Force, is conducting investigations and will pursue and probe the areas beyond the scope of the Terms of Reference of the Commission.
Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, who received the preliminary report last month, had noted that the administration is looking forward to the final document and its findings and recommendations.
The plane, bearing registration number N767Z, was first brought to the attention of officials on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 by a resident of the area. The following day, Wednesday, September 14, a Joint Army and Police team, inclusive of CANU, was dispatched to the location to conduct investigations.
One week later, the Government announced that a CoI would be set up to probe

The Colombian-registered plane.

the discovery of the aircraft in Guyana’s territory.
A preliminary report had found that the plane originated from Colombia and may have been here since August.
However, while nearby residents may have known about the plane’s presence, they did not immediately share the information with security forces.
Colombia is known as a major producer of cocaine, with Guyana being a known transshipment point to the US and Europe.
The aircraft was discovered by the Joint Services on September 13 but it was in that location long before that.
There is enough evidence to suggest that the aircraft came from Colombia and its destination was Guyana, but the plane suffered technical difficulties.
Brig. Collins himself had expressed worry over the fact that residents were not forthcoming with the provision of information to security forces and that it is likely that recommendations will include the development of better relations and communication between the security sector and members of communities in those areas.
”All of the Toshaos were interviewed and I do not know why they were unwilling to provide the information they had to the security forces. I can only assume that based on the evidence that I have received so far, that the relationship between the villages and the security forces is not as [we would have] expected,” he said.
The plane is at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, where it is currently impounded.