The death toll from MV Barima tragedy is now at 53 according to Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips.
Phillips, during the press conference said as a result of the ongoing verification process, a total of 76 persons have been rescued, while 53 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage.
Of those recovered, 26 individuals have been positively identified, providing some closure to some grieving families. Unfortunately, one body was discovered within the wreckage by divers on Tuesday but could not be recovered due to safety and logistical challenges.
International assistance is also on the way, with personnel from the Brazil Coast Guard and the Trinidad and Tobago navy expected to arrive in Guyana to support the ongoing operations.
In response to the incident, Phillips said there would be a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The inquiry aims to determine the causes of the sinking and to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The investigation aims to assess the circumstances that led to the incident, including safety protocols, operational procedures, and personnel conduct. The process will involve a comprehensive review of the incident report and recommendations from experts and relevant authorities. Of particular interest will be the actions taken against the captain, who reportedly tested positive for narcotics, as well as other crew members and officials involved in the operation. The outcome of the investigation will guide the government’s decision on disciplinary actions, which may include suspension, termination, or legal proceedings, depending on the findings.
Following a press conference on Sunday evening, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill engaged in an important meeting with officials from the Transport and Harbour Department.
Phillips addressed the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts, expressing cautious optimism. He stated that the government remains hopeful that there may be survivors under the water, citing the ship’s design which includes pockets of air that could harbor individuals for several days after the incident.
“I am advised by Mr. Thomas and Mr. Flores that with a ship like that there are pockets of air, and wherever people are located, they may very well and have people alive a couple days after the incident, so the earliest we get there, there is always an opportunity of saving a few lives that’s why we insist that it is still a search and rescue operation,” Phillips explained.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the efforts of various stakeholders involved in the rescue, including, Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed, fishermen, private sector participants, and government agencies. He reiterated the government’s openness to opposition participation, emphasizing that the crisis response is a collective effort.
“If the opposition get onboard and they are a participating, we are not going to stop them from participating. In the search today, we have fishermen, many private sector a part of the search and you’re aware that the leader of the opposition was also involved in the search and once the protocols are followed, you search you find bodies and its handed over to the coast guards, we issue an advisory, once they operate in keeping with the protocols, I as leader of this whole incident operation, I really don’t have a problem with that,” Phillips said.
