On International Civil Aviation Day, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) Leader and Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir has urged the government to release the final report on the December 6, 2023, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter crash that claimed the lives of five servicemen, arguing that remembrance without transparency is incomplete.
The Bell 412EP helicopter (registration 8R‑AYA) crashed about 30 miles east of Arau, near the Venezuelan border. The tragedy claimed the lives of five of the seven persons onboard, including senior officers Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan. Two soldiers — Corporal Dwayne Jackson and Lieutenant Andio Crawford — survived; Jackson suffered a broken limb and burns, while Crawford sustained minor injuries and was reported in stable condition.
Following the crash, an official investigation was launched under the authority of the Ministry of Public Works and led by Krishnanand Ramlachana as the Investigator in Charge. By November 2024, the draft final report had been completed and shared with stakeholders, including the GDF and aircraft manufacturers, for comment. A separate internal GDF Board of Inquiry reportedly concluded by May 2025.
However, as of late 2025, neither the full official accident report nor the internal findings have been publicly released, leaving families, the public, and even some members of the Defence Force without clarity on the causes of the crash or measures taken to prevent future tragedies.
In a statement shared on social media, Walton-Desir said:
“Today, as the world observes International Civil Aviation Day, Guyana is reminded that remembrance without truth is no remembrance at all.”
She acknowledged President Irfaan Ali’s recent statement commemorating the fallen officers, describing his words as “warm,” “kind,” and “reverential,” but emphasized that the government continues to withhold the investigation report. “Two years have now passed. Yet the official accident report remains withheld,” she noted.
Walton-Desir highlighted the continued grief of the families and the lack of clarity for the public and surviving officers:
“The surviving officers have been silent. The families continue to grieve without answers. And the public is still being asked to accept platitudes in place of accountability.”
Her concerns were compounded by a recent announcement from the GDF regarding the acquisition of two new helicopters of the same class involved in the fatal crash. Walton-Desir cautioned that, without transparency, there is no assurance that systemic weaknesses in maintenance, training, oversight, or operational readiness have been addressed.
“We do not know whether these new aircraft address systemic weaknesses in maintenance, training, oversight, or operational readiness. We do not know whether the same vulnerabilities persist. Guyana cannot advance aviation safety on secrecy,” she said.
Walton-Desir called on President Ali to release the final accident investigation report immediately, allowing for national security considerations to be redacted if necessary, but stressing that there is no justification for withholding the full report:
“True honour requires truth. True leadership requires accountability. Our servicemen gave their lives in service to this nation. Their families deserve closure. The survivors deserve recognition and support. And we the people of Guyana deserve to know that the mistakes of the past are not being repeated behind closed doors.”
She concluded by urging a recommitment to openness and transparency in aviation safety:
“On a day dedicated to global aviation safety, Guyana must recommit to openness, transparency, and the duty of care we owe to every man and woman who serves.”
Walton-Desir’s comments underscore growing calls for accountability from the government and military authorities, highlighting public concern that safety protocols and lessons from the 2023 tragedy have not yet been made fully transparent.
