Harmon denies former gov’t initiated purchase of US helicopters
Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has stated that his government never approached the US State Department to purchase four Bell helicopters and equipment for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
“This agreement to purchase these helicopters was not done by us,” Harmon, who served as a member of the Defence Board, declared during a virtual press conference yesterday.
On October 30th, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that it delivered the required certification and notified Congress of the possible sale of the helicopters.
“The Government of Guyana has requested to buy two (2) Bell 412EPi Light Utility Helicopters with customer-unique modifications; two (2) Bell 429 Light Utility Helicopters with customer-unique modifications; two (2) WESCAM MX-10 cameras; mission equipment; contractor-provided pilot and maintainer training; particular ground support equipment; spares; publications; integrated product support; technical assistance; transportation; Repair and Return; and other related elements of logistics and program support,” the release explained, while noting that the total estimated program cost is US$256 million.
Stabroek News had reported that negotiations for the purchase began under the former administration.
According to Harmon, the APNU+AFC government was interested in “heavy lift helicopters,” which could be used for search and rescue operations, help with troop change, and surveillance of Guyana’s coastlands.
“We were never in any negotiations with respect to that kind of aircraft I see them signing an agreement for. It is a highly technical piece of equipment and the price tag is very serious price tag,” he stressed adding that he had spoken with former president David Granger on the matter.
Granger, he claimed, has indicated that there was never any such agreement.
In fact, according to Harmon, the former government had not identified the type of helicopters it wished to purchase or how much it wished to spend on the purchase.
“We were trying to sell unserviceable helicopters and use [those] funds to buy helicopters accordingly… we never got to the point where we said we would buy this or that,” he maintained.
The state department release states that the proposed sale of the Bell 412EPi and 429 helicopters will improve Guyana’s capability to meet current and future threats.
“Guyana will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense; conduct maritime surveillance, patrol, and interdiction; counter narcotic trafficking and transnational criminal organizations; deter regional threats; and support coalition partners overseas. Guyana will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” it further said, while adding that the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
Additionally, the release explained that the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve security of Guyana, which is expected to grow to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in South America.