Grateful to all those involved in the search for Aliya and who gave support

My life is slowly returning to some level of normalcy following the loss of my daughter Aliya in tragic circumstances, one that attracted national coverage and concern. By this medium and by virtue of your prerogative, I wish to relate first hand, the sequence of events following the disappearance of my daughter as I have noted differing and various opinions expressed on the state of national readiness regarding search and rescue/recovery operations in our hinterland.

Before I do so, permit me please Editor, to express my deepest and heartfelt appreciation to the countless persons, great and small, who in many different ways sought to console me and my family, in our hour of immense grief and need.  It is not possible here to identify all those persons, save and except to say that we will forever remember your individual acts of care, concern and compassion.

As is now known, Aliya left for Kaieteur Falls on Saturday, November 7, 2009 on a Roraima Airways Charter Tour.  At around noon I received word from the office of Roraima Airways, that Aliya went missing at the falls.  I immediately visited the office of Roraima Airways where I was informed by Captain Gerry Gouveia that it was reported by the pilot of the aircraft Captain Ramjag, that on the conclusion of the tour of the falls, it was believed that Aliya went over the cliff.  I then went into the area with a Roraima Airways aircraft that was flying in two policemen who were to carry out an investigation of what was reported.  I arrived at the falls at about 2.30 pm and spoke with the tour guide of the party that Aliya was a part of.  Even thought I learnt from him that he did not see Aliya go over the falls or the cliff, he was sure that this is what had happened.  The first misrepresentation I wish to clear up is that Aliya did not “run screaming” towards the falls.  The screaming emanated from the Korean woman who was nearest to Aliya when she made her terminal dash. I returned to Ogle airport at around 5.30 pm.

On my return my bother Ronald who had accompanied me to the falls, was able to make immediate contact with the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Gary Best, duly informing him of what had happened and requesting the help of the army in searching for her.  The response of the Chief of Staff was unequivocally in the affirmative.  The army would be available, he assured us, to support any effort to search and retrieve her.  It was established at this stage that what we were dealing with was retrieval of a body and not the rescue of a person.  Following this initial contact on Saturday afternoon the Chief of Staff was in personal contact with my brother on several occasions, alerting and advising him of the efforts the army was making in mobilising a search team.

An army team led by Lieutenant Whyte flew into the area early on Monday morning and commenced the trek toward the base of the falls.  This contingent was under the command of Captain Howell of the Special Forces.  It was little appreciated at this time how dangerous this mission was due to the extreme conditions of the terrain.  This search team reached the area of the base of the falls at about 11am on Tuesday.  I, along with family members witnessed this as we were at the top of the falls having gone back there on Monday.  The army team spent over an hour surveying the area and then started to make their way out.

It was only later when my brother Arif who accompanied the second army team which went in, that we could hear and  appreciate the nightmarish conditions there, with boulders several storeys high surrounding the basin, the ever present crescendo of water tumbling over 800′ which made it look like searching for a needle in a haystack.  About an hour after the team departed the area Alyia’s body popped to the surface of the basin at the foot of the falls.

All during this time the army command was unable to make contact with the team on the ground  although they were equipped with satellite phones, they were not picking up any signals.  On their return, we would later learn that one of the team members almost lost his life due to the extreme nature of the terrain.

Following sighting of the body at around 1pm Tuesday, family members were contacted by the Office of the President, enquiring about events and relaying the President’s assurance that the army would not give up its effort.  This was in addition to similar assurances from the Chief of Staff.  Later, the President himself would call, giving such assurances.

On Wednesday, shortly before noon, a second team from the army’s Special Forces Unit under the direct command of Captain Howell and accompanied by a civilian, Ian Yansen, flew to Kaieteur top.  Their mission now was to get to the body, secure it and attach it to a stretcher that had been lowered to the bottom.

As before, the team would descend, overnight at Tukeit and resume the trek up the unforgiving gorge.  They arrived at the falls at about 11am.  The dangerous task of navigating the building-sized boulders protecting the rim and swimming out to the body to secure it was accomplished by Cpl Guy Nash.  During this time the stretcher that was lowered had become entangled in the rocks below.  It required the bravery of Cpl Armstrong, under the guidance of Lieutenant Whyte, to rappel into the chasm to free it.

Aliya’s body was eventually secured and the team at the top would hoist her on a rigging that was ingeniously prepared with help from a construction team engaged in building accommodation facilities at Kaieteur.  Within half of an hour she was at the top and immediately flown to the city on an Air Services Limited aircraft.

In tandem  with the efforts of the army I need to relate those of my uncle, Mr Yacoob Ally.  From the time I learned of Aliya’s disappearance he was in immediate contact with me, at all time insisting that he would not relent in efforts until she was recovered.

These efforts and support included but were not limited to the following (i) taking me and other family members into and out of the area on Sunday, (ii) taking us in again on Monday with reinforcement and with a pledge that he would not leave until she was found and brought up.  He would make good on this pledge and remained with me and other family members and friends uninterrupted at Kaieteur top until the mission was accomplished.  To this end he devoted considerable resources, apart from his time.  I am aware that he has over the years assisted the army and other national institutions in various such humanitarian missions and do feel that he is deserving of a special National Award.

During this difficult period of my life I witnessed the bravery and heroism of our men in the army.  I am proud of them.  Their Special Force comprises a special breed of men indeed.  Were it not for them I may have never recovered the body of my daughter and for this my gratitude and that of my entire family will be eternal.

To recap, my initial approach to the army requesting help was met by a humane and positive response.  Their mobilisation was immediate and professional.  During this period, the Commander in Chief, President Jagdeo contacted us on several occasions expressing not only comforting words but assurances of support.

Finally, the execution of the rescue was exemplary and testimony to the skill and compassion of President Jagdeo and to the quality of leadership in our army and the dedication and heroism of its ranks.  To them all, and to my uncle Yacoob, my family and I will forever be grateful.

Yours faithfully,
Rustum Bulkan