President Bharrat Jagdeo gesticulates during a media briefing at State House on July 31
A midst talks that the country’s emergency response plan was not immediately activated following Saturday morning’s plane crash, President Bharrat Jagdeo told media operatives at a press conference at State House on July 31, that he is convinced Guyana has an excellent response programme to deal with disasters, and needs no assistance from sister Caricom state Trinidad and Tobago.
This announcement was made at the news briefing immediately following a meeting the president had with a high-level team from Trinidad and Tobago, which included that country’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar.
The Caribbean Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 jet, Flight BW523, overshot the runway of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) early Saturday morning, July 30, after touching down, and ended up broken in two in the field outside the perimeter of the airport. There were 151 passengers and six crew members on board at the time of the mishap.
The plane allegedly had taken a short landing, leaving the pilot no room to bring the aircraft to a stop, resulting in the huge mechanical bird swooping off the airstrip in a disastrous landing.
Giving a chronology of the incident, President Jagdeo explained that, within 15 or 20 minutes of the incident, he received a call from Public Works and Transport Minister Robeson Benn, who informed him that Caribbean Airlines’ Flight BW 523 may have overshot the runway and was now broken in two. He said the emergency response programme was immediately activated, and he instructed that any other thing that was needed must be put in place. He reiterated that he also called Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and instructed him to send up as many ambulances and doctors as were possible to attend to the injured, in a move to reinforce the emergency response programme.
He noted that, when he arrived on scene, the police, soldiers and medical personnel were all on the ground doing an excellent job. His primary concern then was more or less to look after the passengers. He further said that the worst cases were referred to the Georgetown Hospital, but persons with minor injuries were treated at the airport terminal.
“The emergency response is protocol-based and will have to be reviewed. Whether you perform excellently or badly, a review is necessary,” the president disclosed.
“We are not pressuring the investigators to do their duties, since we want to get down to the bottom of this,” he declared.
The president also highlighted that, because of the accident, the runway has been shortened; hence a speedy investigation is welcome, since he does not want anything to obstruct the airport.
He pointed out that the security forces will continue to secure the perimeters around the crash site, and continue to give the necessary support to the investigators so that they can conduct their investigations in an effective manner.
Meanwhile, Acting Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, expressed deep concern at the crash, saying that the community wishes a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured in the accident, and is greatly relieved that there has been no loss of life.
“The community commends the authorities in Guyana and the airline for their swift response to the crisis, which ensured the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew. The community looks forward to the results of the investigation, which will determine the causes of the accident, with the expectation that it would assist in ensuring no recurrence of such an incident.”
