Missing woman: Team prepares to examine sighting at Kaieteur Falls bottom

Last Updated on Sunday, 13 September 2015, 1:07 by GxMedia

Authorities are Sunday expected to probe an object that was spotted at the Kaieteur National Park where the downgraded search for the missing woman continues.

The usually reliable source stressed that there was no immediate confirmation, and that would be done Sunday, September 13, 2015.

The source would only say “what appears to be a body” has been spotted “in an area at the bottom” of the 741 foot tall falls that requires the deployment of a search and recovery mission.

Gyaneshwarie Sivanand on September 1, 2015 while on a two-hour tour of the Kaieteur National Park. She was among nine persons who had flown there aboard an Air Services Limited (ASL) flight.

Asked if the location of the sighting meant the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Special Forces might have to be re-deployed, the source said he was “not sure but it may be the easiest way to get a body up for transport by air.”

After a nine-day extensive search by police, soldiers, park rangers and other persons, that operation was virtually called off. Park rangers were, however, told to be on the lookout for the woman or anything that might be linked to her.

Since then, Minister responsible for Natural Resources and the Environment has announced that a package of measures has been put in place to minimize the chances of a visitor to Kaieteur National Park going missing again.

According to Trotman, one of the measures that may be put in place is, the recording of visitor’s personal data. “We are still in the process of refining and defining exactly what it is we are going to do. We decided to introduce a manifest system, so that everybody who comes has to display a form of identification to the park ranger.”

He added that tour guides will be on the ground to assist tourists and make sure that no one wanders off. In addition, there will be a zero tolerance for persons who want to enter the water or who want to consume alcohol.

Minister Trotman noted that there is a possibility of putting rails along the water. Government will be seeking advice from parks across the world in dealing with the issue.

The measures were discussed by Trotman, Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes, representatives of  The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Air Services Limited (ASL), the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).