In the wake of the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima that claimed around 100 lives it is deeply troubling that aircraft flying into hinterland airstrips have had to contend with incursions by animals.
Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) has blamed the September 17 incident with one of its planes at Mabaruma on the presence of an animal on the runway. Luckily no one was hurt but that incident could have easily had more serious consequences.
One expects that the MV Barima inquiry will drill down to the causes of the sinking of the ferry and determine whether there were failings in the maintenance of the vessel, the weight it carried and its captaining.
In the case of the hinterland airstrips the problem is known. The fact that it has not been comprehensively addressed is a gross dereliction of duty.
TGA has released correspondence to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) identifying the dangers posed by incursions and the problems as planes take off or approach. One such warning was delivered just days before the September 17 incident.
It is the GCAA that it is responsible for ensuring aviation safety. Considering that TGA had been in contact with the GCAA since May this year on a variety of problems threatening aviation safety it is disconcerting that no decisive action was taken. When asked by Kiskadee Watch about the TGA complaints, GCAA Director General, retired Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field said “I concur that these items that you referenced, in relation to the incursion of the runways by elements which are not supposed to be on the runway, are correct.
“They were brought to the attention of the Civil Aviation Authority and we are taking steps to ensure that these occurrences do not take place in the future.”
Mr Field said he had initiated discussions with the Commissioner of Police and had received a police report outlining enforcement measures taken against persons entering restricted airport areas.
“When they do so, they are apprehended. Between January and now, they have placed before the court over nine persons,” he said.
According to Mr Field, those convicted were fined sums ranging from $30,000 to $300,000.
The police report, he said, also indicated that ranks assigned to airport security duties were conducting routine runway inspections and security checks before the arrival and departure of aircraft, in keeping with established procedures.
Despite these measures, Mr Field acknowledged that breaches continued because persons were cutting perimeter fences to create shortcuts across airport compounds.
There must be more perimeter protection for these airstrips and rigorous security. The systems in place are clearly flawed and there appears to be no close coordination between the GCAA and village councils and local government tiers. It again underlines the weaknesses evident at all rungs of governance in this country. Even as the country aspires to have its oil wealth catapult it into a much higher trajectory of performance the very basic things are not being done.
Whether airstrips were properly sited in the first place in light of the traditional livelihood activities of residents in the vicinity is now a moot point. However, there can be no breaching of fences for short cuts for the passage of people and animals. Securing the airstrips requires village councils and local government authorities to be adequately resourced. If transfers from the centre are not enough there must be immediate budgetary changes and the GCAA must ensure that the Minister responsible for Aviation is made well aware of the shortcomings. If there is no remedial action and the danger persists then those airstrips should not be used. Aviation authorities have clearly been warned. Public safety demands immediate action to secure these hinterland facilities.
Discussion