[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE04414_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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GEORGE 04414 221325Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 AID-05 H-02 EB-08 CIAE-00 INR-10 NSAE-00 L-03 DOTE-00 ABF-01 SP-02 /047 W
——————110809 221331Z /41
P R 221102Z DEC 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8533
INFO AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 4414
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: GY, OREP, (RYAN, LEO)
SUBJ: LEASE OF PLANE.
REF: (A) GEORGETOWN 4064 (B) STATE 305327 (C) STATE 309114
1. ON RECEIPT REF (C) GOG WAS IMMEDIATELY ADVISED OF FAVORABLE RESPONSE BY USG TO PRIME MINISTER’S URGENT REQUEST FOR AIR TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL AREAS. GOG REPRESENTATIVE MINISTER GREEN EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT MADE BY USG TO OBTAIN NECESSARY FUNDS FROM SECTION 451 FAA FOR THIS PURPOSE.
2. WHILE GOG REQUEST WAS BEING CONSIDERED WITHIN USG, GUYANA AIRWAYS CORP (GAC) WAS MAKING EXTENSIVE EFFORTS THROUGH COMMERCIAL CHANNELS IN US AND CANADA TO RENT ENGINE FOR DAMAGED TWIN OTTER SO THAT IT COULD BE FLOWN FROM PORT KAITUMA TO GEORGETOWN FOR BODY REPAIR WORK AND THEREAFTER TO SHIP DAMAGED ENGINE TO U.S. OR CANADA FOR NEEDED REPAIR AS URGENTLY AS POSSIBLE. FORTUNATELY, ONE RENTED ENGINE WAS ENVENTUALLY LOCATED IN U.S. AND FLOWN TO PORT KAITUMA. THIS PERMITTED DAMAGED PLANE TO BE RETURNED TO GEORGETTOWN, WHERE ITS BLOOD-STAINED
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INTERIOR HAS BEEN CLEANED, BULLET HOLES PATCHED, AND OTHER DAMAGE REPAIRED. AIRPLANE HAS JUST BEEN RETURNED TO SERVICE COMMENCING DECEMBER 18. TWO TWIN OTTERS THEREFORE ARE NOW IN SERVICE ALTHOUGH ONE WILL HAVE TO BE GROUNDED FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE SHORTLY.
3. IN LIGHT ABOVE, GOG URGENTLY REQUESTS THAT IN LIEU OF CHARTER OF TWIN OTTER AIRCRAFT REQUESTED REF (A), USG PROVIDE FOLLOWING ASSISTANCE:
(A) COST OF RENTAL ENGINE FROM U.S. FIRM FOR APPROXIMATELY 65 DAYS AT ESTIMATED COST $5,700. THIS IS TIME PERIOD ANTICIPATED TO BE NEEDED TO REPAIR DAMAGED ENGINE IN U.S. AND RETURN TO GEORGETOWN. HOWEVER, GAC HAS SINCE CONFIRMED ITS ONE STANDBY ENGINE WHICH HAS BEEN UNDERGOING EXTENSIVE REPAIRS IN CANADA MAY BE READY FOR SHIPMENT TO GEORGETOWN SOON. ASSUMING THIS PROVES TO BE THE CASE, ANTINCIPATED COST FOR RENTAL OF ENGINE WILL BE FOR MINIMUN 30 DAYS AT TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST OF US$3,000.
(B) COST OF REPAIR OF DAMAGED ENGINE WHICH WILL BE DONE IN U.S. BY U.S. FIRM IS NOT YET KNOWN. HOWEVER, PRATT AND WHITNEY REP FROM CANADA WHO RECENTLY INSPECTED ENGINE GEORGETOWN ESTIMATED THAT COST OF REPAIRS, REPLACEMENT OF SPARES AND OVERHAUL COULD APPROXIMATE US$50,000.
4. ALTHOUGH AS CAN BE SEEN FROM ABOVE THE FORM OF ASSISTANCE REQUESTED HAS CHANGED, (DUE TO GAC’S COMMENDABLE INITIATIVE IN ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE SERVICE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE) ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ASSISTANCE REMAINS UNCHANGED, NAMELY TO RESTORE VITAL COMMUNICATION AND SUPPLY LINE FOR ITEMS SUCH AS FUEL AND FOODSTUFFS TO RURAL AREAS FOR WHICH STOL
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TYPE AIRCRAFT IS ESSENTIAL AND TO ASSURE TRANSPORT OF PERSONS NEEDING MEDICAL ATTENITION TO HOSPITAL IN GEORGETOWN. URGE FAVORABE CONSIDERATION THIS REQUEST.
5. THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN CLEARED WITH USAID.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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