Guyana beefs up search and rescue capabilities

Local aviation stakeholders are benefitting from a new search and rescue information management system that helps boost Guyana’s capabilities to respond to emergencies and save lives.

The system uses IMSAR software, and 16 individuals have been trained. Those individuals are now able to use the digital system to process an incident, moving efficiently from reporting and planning to response efforts.

One of the trained search and rescue coordinators, Parmanand Patraj, explained that the emergency response before was rooted in a paper-based system. Physical maps, pencils, and data received over the phone were used to determine the location of someone in distress and plan response efforts.

“Search and rescue management is now a single integrated system,” he highlighted.

This was a sentiment expressed repeatedly at the launch of the $123 million system at the Timehri Control Tower Complex on Monday.

Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, for one, emphasised that time is of the essence in search and rescue efforts. So he backed the new system, positing that more lives can be saved with the IMSAR system.

Similarly, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar welcomed the system and said the investment was a necessary one. According to him, similar investments are being made in the maritime sector, so search and rescue efforts there are beefed up.

Altogether, Indar said the government is focused on making Guyana a much safer place.