NEW YORK, Jul 26, CMC – The Brooklyn, New York-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) on Saturday strongly criticized the Government of President Dr. Irfaan Ali for operating an 87-year-old ferry in what has been described as the worst maritime disaster in Guyana’s history.
Reports indicate that about 100 of 179 passengers were killed on July 11, when the MV Barima, a ferry from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, near the Venezuelan border, sank in the Atlantic Ocean about 25 miles from the mouth of the Pomeroon River, en route to Port Kaituma.
To date, over 60 bodies have reportedly been recovered.
“The MV Barima was built in 1939; it is 87 years old,” CGID Director of Communication Richard Millington told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). “This vessel should not have been in operation. It was not seaworthy.
“It has been reported that the captain and other members complained bitterly in the past about conditions on the vessel and the inoperability of the vessel. Yet, they were forced by management to keep operating the vessel,” Millington claimed. “Why hasn’t the government purchased new vessels and properly built out the country’s transportation infrastructure, including modernizing hinterland transportation?
“Why must the people of Region One, Barima-Waini suffer the risk and indignity of being transported in an 87-year-old rinky dinky, dilapidated ferry?” he asked. “This is reckless and criminal.”
Millington claimed video evidence has emerged showing the vessel was “significantly overloaded to the point of taking in water.
“Engineers were allegedly using water pumps to remove water from the vessel,” he said. “Why was this boat allowed to set sail into the volatile and turbulent Atlantic Ocean in the worst possible, inhumane, unseaworthy conditions?”
Amid the disaster, Millington called on President Ali to immediately fire Minister of Works and Transportation Juan Edghill and the entire management of the Transport and Harbors Department (THD), a state agency under the Ministry of Public Works that’s responsible for running public cargo and passenger ferries, tugboats and harbor/stelling services across Guyana’s rivers and coastal waterways.
“The PPP (People’s Progressive Party) Government must immediately purchase new vessels so that Guyanese can travel safely on our waters, albeit it being too late as over 100 our brothers and sisters have already perished and paid the ultimate price for this PPP government’s callousness, reckless policies and inhumane attitude towards the citizens to whom they’ve sworn to serve and protect,” Millington said.
He said CGID thanked public servants tasked with the rescue and recovery operation, and prayed for victims and survivors and their families.
On Friday evening, CGID led a massive candlelight vigil at Church and Utica Avenues, in the heart of the Caribbean community in Brooklyn, in remembrance of the victims of the MV Barima tragedy and their families.
At the vigil, CGID President Rickford Burke accused the Guyanese Government of a “massive cover-up” in delaying rescue efforts.
“They have now embarked on a massive cover-up right before our lives,” Burke claimed. “Survivors said they took seven hours (to be rescued).
“Who knows how many more people could be rescued within those seven hours?” he asked. “Who knows if we would have been able to find some of those people?”
On Saturday, Ali said he will announce on Sunday the establishment of an international and independent commission of inquiry to probe the circumstances surrounding the capsizing of the MV Barima.
He said in a statement that the five-member panel would comprise “distinguished experts and professionals”, with extensive experience in law, marine engineering, maritime safety and disaster investigation.
Ali said the commission will be mandated to conduct a “thorough, impartial examination” of the disaster, including the events leading to the vessel’s capsizing and sinking, the emergency response and all related matters.
The Guyanese president said the probe would also seek to identify any shortcomings or failures, recommend accountability where appropriate, and propose reforms to improve the safety and reliability of Guyana’s maritime transport system.
CMC/nk/kb/2026