MV Barima tragedy: Captain, 2 crew members slapped with 72 counts of murder

…criminal case to proceed alongside CoI – DPP

Almost two weeks after MV Barima went underwater offshore Guyana, claiming 73 lives, with another 30 persons still missing, three individuals, including the Captain of the vessel, were charged on Tuesday with multiple counts of murder.
Charged are 40-year-old Kevin Price, also called “KP”, the boat Captain of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, Chief Mate of Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD); and Delon Granderson, 33, Goods superintendent of Fellowship, West Coast Demerara (WBD).
The charges were instituted following recommendations from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge the three employees attached to the Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) with the offence of murder in relation to the tragic deaths of passengers who were on board the MV Barima.
The trio appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where the charges were read to them.
Police stated that on July 18, 2026 at 9.3 nautical miles and a bearing of 040° off the Essequibo Coast, the three men murdered Kevin Wilson, Claymont King, Oxwell John, Roma Mendonca, Nathaniel Matabheek, Nathalia Matabheek, Rachel Wells Matabheek, Ezekiel Matabheek, Cheriannys Valenzuela, Orin Clarke, Edith Gordon, Omar Harris Paul Seapersaud, Andriel Bautisa, Youlanda Marks, Gwenette Marks, Shenira Smith, Cleiveliz Fraser, Vivianna Saddurddin, Argelys Kelly Williams, Devon Mars, Robina Hernandez, Tendhi Standford, Adans Williams, Ranaldo Poon, Aarave Daniels, Marcia Beharry, Leonard Persaud, Mariam Bernard, Ravindra Singh, Shivana LaCruz Ramsindo, Christiani Rodrigues, Annalisa Murray, Owen Arthur, Loveisa Bovell, Joshua Arthur, Ranaldo Pickering, Bibi Mohamed, Sylvester Peters, Shawn John, Akelah Rodrigues, Vishawn Ramjattan, Nelly Duesberry, Samara Manoharlall, Sherlon Joseph, Timar Manoharlall, Dellon Gaskin, Percy France, Alicia Atkinson, Dwyane Forbes, Orin Europe, Orwin Europe, Justin Mury, Odessa Mury, Reshana David, Kishana Sam, Tiona Sam, Elizebeth Bowin, Argany Williams, Omarions Europe Jacob Jerome, Mark Abrams, Ashleena Bovel, Kyle Thomas, Carlton Bennett, Navessa Bovell, Martin Ishmeal, Jason Headley, and other persons unknown.
They were not required to plead to the indictable charges and were remanded to prison. The case was transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court and will continue on August 3.

Unprecedented magnitude
On Tuesday also, the DPP has confirmed that the decision to charge the men was based upon careful consideration of the evidence presented and the relevant principles of law involved.
As such, the DPP Chambers said it has taken note of the impending establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry and wished to state that the business of this CoI will not affect the prosecution of the charge instituted.
In fact, the DPP stated that they can proceed simultaneously as was done in the cases of the piracy charges in the Berbice matter in 2018 and the fraud charges in the 2020 regional and general elections.
“Given the unprecedented magnitude of this matter, coupled with public interest factors, the prosecution will be conducted with due consideration of the work of the Commission of Inquiry,” a release from the DPP added.
On July 18, the MV Barima departed the Georgetown stelling at about 15:00h on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma, North West District, carrying 179 persons, including 18 crew members and cargo.
According to officials, the vessel encountered rough sea conditions off the Essequibo Coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River late that night and capsized.
A distress signal transmitted at approximately 23:01h was received by aviation authorities, triggering a large-scale multi-agency emergency response that continues. However, following the incident, the Captain and a crew member tested positive for cannabis use and were subsequently arrested. Later, the goods Superintendent was arrested.
Subsequently, in its initial probe, it was uncovered that more people were aboard the vessel than had been recorded on the original passenger manifest.
To date, while 73 bodies were pulled from the wreckage, five remain unidentified. As such, the Health Ministry urged relatives to visit the Suddie Mortuary to assist in identifying the remaining victims.
Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday named a high-level five-member panel to lead a Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
The appointment of this distinguished team of regional and international legal and maritime experts was made in keeping with an earlier commitment by the Guyanese Head of State for an independent probe into the horrific ferry accident.