GDF flies aid to Venezuela
The first consignment of relief supplies left Guyana for Venezuela yesterday aboard a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Skyvan at 0430 hrs. The aircraft was piloted by Lieutenant Patrick Nichols with Lieutenants Aziz Niezamuden as co-pilot and Colin Morris as engineer. The consignment is part of the $15 million in relief supplies the Government has donated to Venezuela in the wake of the floods and mudslides which struck its Atlantic coast killing an estimated 30,000 people. A symbolic handing over of the supplies was made to Venezuela's ambassador to Guyana, Hector Azocar, by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon about 30 minutes before the flight departed for Venezuela. Loading of the aircraft began at midnight on Sunday at the GDF hangar at Timehri. A release from the GDF yesterday said that the consignment was made up of health related materials and non-perishable food. It said too a further 20 tonnes of material is presently stockpiled at Timehri awaiting transportation. In Georgetown there are 280 tonnes of supplies for which arrangements are being made to send by sea to Venezuela. Beside the government donation, the Guyana Is First grouping has launched an appeal for donations which could be taken to the Venezuelan Embassy on Thomas Street or to the Venezuelan Cultural Institute on Camp Street.
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