Kamla thanks GPH for helping victims of CAL crash

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar has praised the staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital for the resilience, dedication and commitment displayed to the victims of the July 30 Caribbean Airlines plane crash.

Persad-Bissessar in a letter to Michael Khan, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, in August, extended appreciation for the assistance extended to the passenger and crew members.

“I wish to thank you for your continued efforts to aid nationals of Trinidad and Tobago as well as other non citizens in receiving the necessary medical attention despite the many challenges and setbacks in dealing with such an unfortunate event,” the letter read.

“In reiterating to you the gratitude of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for your efforts, I avail myself of the opportunity to renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration,” it said.

Around 1.32 am on July 30, CAL Flight 523 coming from the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad overshot the runway and rammed into the perimeter fence of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport before the jet broke in two. There were 162 passengers and crew onboard the Boeing 737-800 aircraft at the time of the crash. Miraculously, there were no fatalities but a large number of persons were referred to the Georgetown Hospital from the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where the injured had been taken.

Three persons were hospitalized and days later two were discharged. Noel Elliot, the overseas-based Guyanese who remained hospitalized had to undergo emergency surgery to his broken right leg. He later returned to the US in an attempt to save his damaged leg. However it was amputated at a New York City hospital on August 7.

Elliot, 46, who was seated towards the back of the aircraft at the time of the crash, had returned home for a two-week vacation to celebrate his first wedding anniversary. Elliot, who works at a law firm, has been resident in the US for six years.