Nearly two months after a plane crashed into her home, burning it to the ground, 69-year-old Florence Tyndyall says she assumed government would have done more for her to date but in response Transport Minister Robeson Benn says the required process is being followed.
Despite promises by the government to rebuild an abode and make several smaller provisions, the empty lot where Tyndyall’s house once stood remains burnt and desolate. Torched zinc sheets and pieces of wood are now all that remain of the home in which the woman spent most of her life.
On April 13th, an American-registered N27-FT Piper Aztec plane, reportedly as a result of engine failure, plunged into the woman’s Lot 78 Sparendaam residence, burning it to the ground and killing the pilot and passenger. The pilot and passenger were part of a larger team contracted by government to conduct LiDAR surveys for different aspects of the planned Amaila Falls hydro project. After the accident, Benn, who was on the scene of the crash, stated that the government was not responsible for the resulting damage, but said that the Transport Ministry would provide some amount of assistance for those affected. Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Zulficar Mohamed had said that the necessary repair works would be funded by the insurer of the aircraft. The aircraft’s insurer has been identified by government though it has not divulged the name of the entity.
One resident had her PVC gutters partially melted by the heat emanating from the blaze while the house of another resident, which was closer to Tyndyall’s, suffered far more damage. On Tuesday the woman said that the holes left in her walls and roof now make it easy for the rain to intrude.
Tyndyall, who suffered the most significant loss, and all the others who had been affected had been asked to submit estimates of the damage their homes sustained to the ministry as they positioned themselves to render assistance.
The ministry even sought out a photo of Tyndyall’s residence in order to build an abode which was similar to what she initially owned. This promise has not yet been fulfilled.
Benn though, says that the lack of visible evidence of the ministry’s work to make provisions for those affected does not mean that nothing is being done. He also dismissed notions that the government was taking too long to provide recompense to those affected by the plane crash.
“There is a process which has to be followed, estimates have to be submitted, approvals have to be sought, and there needs to be a tendering process for the work to get underway. The work is not taking long, it is taking a normal course,” Benn explained. The minister added that the government is not waiting for funds from the insurer of the aircraft to begin whatever works they decide to carry out. He said that the government will go ahead with their planned works and will likely be reimbursed by the plane’s insurer.
Tyndyall however says that the government does not seem interested in her plight. Since the accident, Benn reportedly offered the woman a temporary place of abode, which she turned down for several reasons. She instead opted to stay at her son’s residence which is closer to where her house once stood.
Her son is currently overseas.
She said that the yard in which the house stands was open and in need of fencing. Tyndyall said that “the government could have at least” visited where she currently stays to determine how they could assist her, particularly in providing some fencing. Instead, the woman said that she went into her own pockets to fence the yard to make it a bit more “livable.”
Tyndyall, who stays at the house with “Parrot,” her pet parrot, and her dog, says that she tries not to remember the accident since it stirs unpleasant memories and feelings. She said too that she is hurt by what seems to be the government’s lack of interest in her situation. The woman said that after the accident, she never saw the Transport Minister again until one month ago when she visited him to request a “No Trespassing” sign for the empty lot where her house once stood. The woman said that persons were going onto the land for reasons unknown to her. In an effort to prevent this she said that she visited the Minister who promised that he would provide her with such.
“He never turned up, nobody never turned up to say anything,” a sad Tyndyall disclosed.
“I trusted the government to do more. People don’t have to hit you with a stick to hurt you, but making it seem that they just can’t be bothered can do it too,” the woman shared.
Tyndyall said that she does not blame the government for the accident, but said that the fact that they were charged with the care of the Guyanese people should compel them to help, and in a timely manner.
“To me they don’t seem concerned, they have not done anything, but when elections comes around they want you to do so much for them.”
