Gouveia’s statement on capacity of helicopters “silly”-President Jagdeo
 –its main objective is for surveillance

Georgetown, GINA, April 6, 2008

President Bharrat Jagdeo has lashed out at Captain Gerry Gouveia’s recent comment that the Bell 206 helicopters are not suitable for crime fighting because of their limited capacity to carry troops.
            The President in an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA) at State House this evening called the comment ‘silly’ and most unfortunate.
             The Head of State said before making such comments, one should understand the reason for purchasing the helicopters. This he said was mainly for surveillance.
            “I think the comment that the helicopters are not for crime fighting because they have limited capacity to carry people is a silly one. You have to understand crime fighting in different ways; it is not just transporting troops. It is also about surveillance. It is about ensuring you have visibility, you can track people.”
He said the helicopters will be equipped with sophisticated equipment that could light-up an entire area or can track someone through heat technology if he/she is running through bushes or wherever else.
Gouveia who is the Managing Director of Roraima Airways in the April 5 edition of the Stabroek News said that the helicopters may have been a waste of taxpayers’ money and that it has limited capacity to transport troops and unsuited for crime fighting.
            The President reiterated that the helicopters were bought for crime fighting and this is what they will play a part in.
“The objective was more surveillance type equipment which could move limited numbers of people but it’s the surveillance that you need, so you can keep in touch with ground forces from the helicopters and track people. You see these all the time on TV. If you watch these reality shows, you would see that helicopters track people and then they relay that to the ground forces and they move. “
On April 4, officials from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) conducted thorough inspections and rapid test flights of the new Bell 206 B3 Jet Ranger helicopter which arrived in the country on April 2.
Commanding Officer of the GDF Carghill Kyte after the inspections said the helicopter fits directly into crime fighting since one of its capabilities is quick reaction to confined areas, an endeavour which was difficult with the previous helicopter.
The new helicopter is a single engine five-seater aircraft which lifts to an altitude of 20,000 feet. It is the most reliable light reconnaissance aircraft of its kind in the world and more economical to operate.
             Among its other many capabilities is the capacity to be airborne in less than five minutes and its ability to fly for hours depending on wind direction and other circumstances.
This helicopter and another which is expected shortly from Texas, United States, were promised by President Bharrat Jagdeo to assist in crime fighting.

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