MV BARIMA TRAGEDY: AFC calls for removal of Minister, MARAD Boss

Please see statement from the Alliance for Change: 

The Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling on President Irfaan Ali to immediately remove the Minister of Public Works and the Director-General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to ensure an independent and transparent investigation into the sinking of the MV Barima.

The AFC is also demanding the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the tragedy.

The party proposes that the inquiry examine eleven key areas: the vessel, the voyage, weather and sea conditions, the captain and crew, safety equipment and emergency preparedness, the events leading to the sinking, search and rescue operations, crisis management and public communication, regulatory oversight, compliance with international best practices, and recommendations for reform.

Among the issues to be investigated are the vessel’s seaworthiness, why the MV Barima was deployed instead of the MV MA Lisha, the qualifications and conduct of the captain and crew, the availability of life-saving equipment, possible alcohol or drug use, weather conditions, passenger and cargo manifests, and the effectiveness of emergency procedures.

The AFC also wants the inquiry to scrutinize the Government’s post-accident response, including the timeliness of rescue operations, command and coordination among agencies, crisis communication, and whether all available State and private-sector resources—including assets from the petroleum industry—were promptly mobilized.

The Commission should also assess the effectiveness of MARAD and other regulatory agencies, identify any systemic failures or negligence, compare Guyana’s maritime safety regime with international standards, and recommend legislative, regulatory and operational reforms to prevent similar tragedies.

The AFC believes the Commission should be chaired by an independent person with the requisite Judicial expertise and experience, and supported by international maritime and emergency management experts, with hearings conducted publicly wherever possible and vested with full powers to compel witnesses and documents.

The party maintains that the MV Barima tragedy requires more than expressions of sympathy. It requires accountability, transparency and meaningful reforms to restore public confidence in Guyana’s maritime safety system and to ensure such a disaster is never repeated.