…in wake of Guyanese pilot being detained in Puerto Rico
President Donald Ramotar has never travelled on a private jet to Puerto Rico or Brazil with former President Bharrat Jagdeo, as has been insinuated by an Opposition-aligned online media entity, Demerara Waves.
On Wednesday, the online news site published what well-placed sources said were malicious reports about Ramotar and Jagdeo previously travelling on the jet belonging to Khamraj Lall, who was apprehended in Puerto Rico following a whopping US$620,000 cash discovery on the aircraft when he landed over the weekend.
The sources said the reports were all erroneous and seemed to be targeting Jagdeo for reasons only those writing the articles would know.
When contacted, Ramotar himself stated that, contrary to the reports, he and the former President have never been on a private jet together to the US island of Puerto Rico or neighbouring Brazil.
Observers said there appeared to be perennial efforts aimed at dragging Jagdeo’s name into matters that he had absolutely no knowledge of, or any interest in. Ramotar also confirmed that he and the former President never travelled together on a private jet overseas.
The President, however, noted that he had previously chartered Lall’s aircraft to travel to Caribbean destinations on two occasions and once to Brazil, but reiterated that it was never with Jagdeo. On this note, he explained that these trips were official state visits to participate in conferences.
Lall, a Guyanese businessman was arrested by United States law enforcement authorities after the cash was found on his private plane last weekend in Puerto Rico. He was detained on November 22 on his way to Guyana after stopping to refuel the US island.
During the stop, US Customs officers reportedly became suspicious and the aircraft was promptly grounded by airport authorities. While on the ground, the officers reportedly asked Lall to report how much cash he was carrying.
Lall, who was travelling with his father and the pilot of the aircraft, is believed to have initially said only US$5000 between himself and his father, but later allegedly said they had US$12,000. On closer inspection of the plane, officers found US$150,000 wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket under an exit seat.
As the search continued, several black garbage bags with another US$470,000 in cash was found in a compartment near the engine. Lall reportedly admitted that all the money was his and that his father knew nothing about it.
Lall is the owner of KLX Logistics Inc, located in Jersey City, New Jersey in the US, which offers trucking and warehouse services, and was operational from 1995 to 2010. In Guyana, he owns the Kaylee’s Service Station at Coverden, East Bank Demerara, as well as a limousine service. He also operates a courier service out of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
Lall migrated to the United States of America some 30 years ago in pursuit of his dreams in aviation. He graduated from the College of Aeronautics with a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology and Engineering, and later obtained his pilot’s licence.
He has been flying since 1994 and holds a PIC (Pilot-In-Command) type rating approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He worked for Pan American Airlines as an Engineer for five years until the airline closed its operations in 1991.
For the past 15 years, he has been freelancing with Ringwood Airport in New Jersey as a flight instructor.
