Abandoning the MV Barima is an act of cruelty towards victims and their families, says Leader of the Opposition Azurddin Mohamed as he seeks permission to salvage the vessel.
Mohamed, in a video, noted the government’s recent decision to abandon the MV Barima at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. He described the move as “premature and wicked,” asserting that it was a choice that should not have been made while many families are still awaiting news of their loved ones who remain missing.
The Opposition Leader’s statement came after Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips stated that, “The vessel is likely to remain there as it is……bringing other divers will not change the situation.”
Mohamed said that abandoning the vessel now constitutes a form of cruelty towards those families. He shared that several relatives have reached out to him, pleading for the opportunity to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones, even if only bones remain. “All I’m kindly asking the president is to get up the boat because I really need my brother. If it’s a bone, I just need it,” a relative stated. Mohamed made it clear that closure for grieving families does not require memorials or ceremonies, but simply the recovery of their loved ones.
The opposition leader criticized the government for not exhausting all possible options before abandoning the vessel. He pointed out that international assistance with specialized equipment and expertise has not been sought to recover the MV Barima. “They have not sought out international help… Yet, they are already talking about turning it into a memorial,” Mohamed added, questioning the motives behind the decision. “What are they hiding?”
Mohamed raised concerns about the vessel’s safety and operational history, stating that the MV Barima was overloaded and inadequately maintained. He highlighted that one of the vessel’s engines was down, and it lacked essential safety features such as a functioning search and rescue transponder, operational radar, and up-to-date life rafts, referenced by captain at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. The vessel was reportedly carrying construction materials and cargo for major projects in Region 1, cargo that should have been transported via barge.
He also questioned the government’s explanations regarding the vessel’s specifications. Minister Edghill had referenced the vessel’s gross tonnage, but Mohamed clarified that gross tonnage measures internal volume, not weight capacity. The relevant figure, he explained, is the vessel’s dead weight capacity, which for the MV Barima was 198 tons. However, the minister stated there were 268 tons on board, which was beyond its safe limit. Mohamed argued that this discrepancy points to negligence and called for accountability, suggesting that it was Minister Edghill who should be held responsible and remanded to prison.
The Opposition Leader expressed his willingness to undertake the salvage operation. He announced that he had engaged international partners who assured him they possess the necessary equipment and expertise to recover the vessel. “Give me the permission to float this vessel,” he urged. He pledged that if granted the authority, he would recover the MV Barima to facilitate a proper investigation into the incident, provide closure for families, and preserve crucial evidence.
“I have already engaged international partners who have assured me they have the equipment, expertise, and capability to bring the MV Barima to the surface. Give me the permission to float this vessel. I will recover the vessel so that the COI can be properly conducted. I will do everything possible to recover the remains of those still trapped, provide families with the closure they deserve, and ensure that every piece of evidence is preserved,” he urged.
