Dear Editor,
In this, my 20th published letter for the year it moves me with great sadness to mourn and relay my condolences to the family and friends of our nation’s fallen service members who died unexpectedly via the Bell 412EP helicopter crash enroute to Arau in the Essequibo region. Colonel (Col) Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) Michael “Mike” Charles, Lt. Col. Sean Welcome and Staff Sargeant Jason Khan lost their lives tragically in service to the nation, while Lt. Col Andio Michael Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson survived and we wish them a healthy recovery.
Over the last 40 years we continue to observe a level ignorance, arrogance and negligence displayed by the citizenry exacerbated by government. Like the Mahdia fire, that was responsible for the loss of 20 precious young souls, we continue down this path endlessly. We have become a nation learning by crisis and a society governed by reaction rather than proactively seeking solutions to simple and complex issues surrounding our social, political and economic welfare. In no other military setting would a large contingent of its leadership be sent on a mission collectively without splitting them for continuity. At the center of this debate and investigation is the fitness of the helicopter for such a mission, noteworthy that Bell helicopters have been in existence for over 40 years and is now being phased out for more sophisticated and equipped choppers. It is known that this machine was not brand-new equipment and neither was equipped with military capabilities.
Victorian poet, novelist, translator, journalist and one of the leading writers of the era, Mary Ann Evans, under the penmanship of George Eliot wrote “All of our ignorance brings us closer to death.” The death of these servicemen as well as others over the years that have died through thoughtless actions should not continue to be a norm for this society. It’s the cycle of a tragic events followed by periods of mourning (which is important) while the government assures the public of an investigation that it never releases but between the end of mourning and the investigation it is intentionally hoped that the people of Guyana will forget the tragedy and where accountability should be laid. The government is expectant the populace will continue business as usual and our fallen heroes would have died in vain. Our nation must demand transparency and accountability from our government as to whether the helicopter was fit for such mission, observations at the refueling station and the rationale for flying a reasonable portion of the military top officials altogether.
The latest border controversy shows how unfit the current administration is with handling the vast wealth of resources of which we are to be effective custodians. In the era of oil and gas economic diplomacy and territorial security must be paramount. Investment in a competent cadre of diplomats with foreign affairs experience is needed to retool Guyana’s insipid diplomatic outlook and provide for a doctrine that formulate allies with superpowers, influential nations and international organizations. This must be complimented with an increase in military spending for equipment (tankers, helicopters, jets, boats, artillery, accessories) and training for our servicemen to combat any possibility of an incursion
Sincerely,
Collin Haynes MPH MBA
