Dear Editor,
I notice that several persons are demanding that the government invest millions of dollars in helicopters. I would like to borrow a few paragraphs from page 45 of the June/July 2008 Vertical Magazine, a reputable magazine on the topic of airborne law enforcement and ask you to reprint them. It is exactly what is playing out in Guyana and should be reprinted for all to read.
OPERATING ON
A BUDGET
In all walks of life, there are “haves,” and “have-nots” and then the majority, the“somewhere-in-
bet-weens.” Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) is no different. There are the mega-programs, flying big, highly decked out twin engine helicopters equipped for just about any mission in almost any condition.
These are the haves. The have-nots need no explanation. It’s the somewhere in betweens we address here. Like hard working middle class citizens who have to be careful with every move made to obtain and maintain an acceptable standard of living, so it goes for an Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) program on a budget.
We all have desires for the biggest and baddest equipment out there,” said Coyt Bailey of Metro One in Jackson, Miss., a privately contracted Airborne Law Enforcement Program. “But we have to quench those desires to make sure we fullfil the role we have been tasked to fill.
Indeed, when it comes to those programs operating on tight budgets, what you get for what you pay is especially critical. As such, these staple programs operate Hughes/MD 500s, Schweizers, Robinsons, Enstroms and Bell OH58/206s. They are the working class of airborne law enforcement..
Our government bought the high end and best of the working class helicopters that were immediately available, operated by GDF Air Corps over the years, capable of being flown and maintained by our skilled Air Corps personnel – The Bell 206 BIII Jet Ranger helicopter in general purpose category and not the military surplus or restricted category OH58 helicopters that are cheaper and cannot be insured and capable of flying commercial flights or any non-military personnel. In other words, our government make a good decision to acquire the two Bell 206 BIII Jet Rangers with all the security gear, upgrades and medivac kits.
We have gone from the ‘have nots’ to the “somewhere in between” and it’s a problem, the “so called” experts are screaming out and would not stop. We just seem to fight and bicker about everything in Guyana. It’s the reason why we cannot get anywhere and get there very quickly. When will it end, in our lifetime?
Yours faithfully,
Carl Thompson
I saw the army’s helicopters for the first time a few days ago and the immediate question that came to mind was ” Are these real helicopters or toy models?” They seemed so small and inferior and incapable of any vigorous work.
Then I read in the letter column of a detailed brekdown of the capability of the helicopters and the facts reinforced my original opinion.
Every country prides itself on having high tech defense capabilities. Are those two helicopters the best equipment that we could have purchased?
We can build a cricket stadium worth milions of US$ and host carifesta worth millions of US$ but we don’t have enough money for proper security equipment?
What really is our country’s priority? Can’t we get our friendly donor countries to assist us in acquiring proper security equipment like suitable helicopters?
Why is it the donor countries’ responsibility to bail out this regime over and over again? Why can’t this regime show sound fiscal management after 16 long years at the helm? The donor countries are giving everything to this regime, there are many questions on how the funds are being spent. So please don’t go on about donor countires. They are already giving enough!
Carl Thompson or whomever you are, sapre us your babble. We all know this was a Bellgate in the making. The purchase and mystery surrounding these choppers is best described by the experts whom are familiar with the machinery and capabalities.
What is your qualifications to determine that they are the best choppers for the job? Are you even aware of the age of the choppers the flying hours?
It’s obviously clear where your biases are. Get real.
Mr. Thompson, rather than justifying this bad deal with such foolishness you should be advocating for the helicopters to be put to use for tourism purposes during CARIFESTA; something which will be welcomed by all since it will earn some revenue for the government.
Good Idea as Mr Thompson proffered.
I am shocked that anyone is in agreement with Mr. Thompson, it is unacceptable and this non-sense must not continue.
Because this regime inherited nothing other than empty coffers when the PNC was kicked out, don’t you know that? We (Guyana) are starting over from scratch, yes, we have to literally beg if needs be (and needs are a plenty).
It was also the outside developed world that watched Burnham wreck Guyana as he took loan after loan and couldn’t pay a cent or a grain of sugar, or a grain o’ rice or a grit o’ bauxite back, so it is them now to bail us out. What are you talking about La vie, Guyana is still broke…since 1972.