Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud on Monday met with survivors and bereaved families affected by the MV Barima tragedy, as the government continues to provide financial and psychosocial support in the aftermath of the incident.
During the meeting at her office, Persaud checked on the emotional wellbeing of those affected and discussed how they have been coping in the months since the tragedy.
According to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the engagement was also used to assess whether survivors and families require additional psychosocial and trauma counselling as they continue to recover.
The Ministry has meanwhile provided more than $22 million in one-off Public Assistance to bereaved families, covering the period July to December 2026.
The support was provided in collaboration with the HEART Initiative, which was established by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
Financial assistance to the families is expected to continue into the new year, with beneficiaries set to be placed on the Ministry’s monthly Public Assistance registry.
The Ministry said it remains committed to ensuring that the families continue to receive the necessary care and support as they cope with the effects of the tragedy. (Extracted and modified from Ministry of Human Service and Social Protection/Facebook page)
