Official search for woman missing at Kaieteur National Park virtually called off

Last Updated on Wednesday, 9 September 2015, 15:21 by GxMedia

The official search for the Guyanese woman who went missing during a tour to the Kaieteur National Park has been virtually called off and rangers have been asked to keep an eye out for any signs of her.

The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment also announced that the Kaieteur National Park has been reopened “even as Park Rangers continue to be vigilant for any signs of the tourist who went missing more than a week ago, during a visit to the site.”

She is Gyaneshwarie Sivanand. She and the other domestic tourists were flown by Air Services Limited (ASL) to Kaieteur for a two-hour visit but at the end of the tour at 4 PM Tuesday, September 1 she was not seen.

“The GDF has completed its search and withdrawn the Special Forces Team from KNP but the Park Rangers will continue to be vigilant for any signs of the missing woman. Members of communities surrounding the Park are also asked to keep a lookout,” said the Department in a statement.

The Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman and Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes, convened a meeting, yesterday, with 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) with regard to the closure of the KNP, following a more than week long search for the missing tourist.

The decision to re-open the Park was made following the meeting where discussions were held on enhancing safety for visitors of the site.

Among the agreed measures is the development of improved protocols, provision of additional tour guides, further training for KNP Tour Guides and enhanced signage, according the Department.  The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment expressed its sincere thanks to the agencies and individuals who have played a supportive role in the search and rescue operation over the last week.  “Special thanks must be extended to members of the GPF, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the tour operators for their diligence and cooperation.”