MV Barima tragedy: Murder case adjourned as prosecution given time to complete evidence disclosure

The prosecution in the murder case arising from the MV Barima tragedy has been granted additional time to complete disclosure of evidence to the defence.
The matter came up on Monday before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Charity Magistrate’s Court, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) where Senior Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore informed the court that only partial disclosure had been served on the defence. Appearing virtually from prison while handcuffed were Kevin Price, called “KP”, captain of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD), 40; Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, chief mate of Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Delon Granderson, the 33-year-old goods superintendent of Fellowship, West Coast Demerara (WCD). The prosecutor informed the court that, although he had obtained the fiat to proceed with the murder prosecution, additional time was needed to complete disclosure of the prosecution’s evidence, including witness statements and documentary exhibits. The Magistrate subsequently adjourned the proceedings to September 7. As such all three of the accused were further remanded to prison. When the matter resumes, the prosecution is expected to indicate that disclosure has been completed, paving the way for paper committal proceedings.

During that stage, the Magistrate will determine, based on the prosecution’s written evidence rather than oral testimony, whether there is sufficient evidence to commit the accused to stand trial before a judge and jury in the High Court. Appearing for Price and Granderson was a defence team led by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd and comprising Attorneys Dexter Smartt, Keona Higgins, Eden Corbin and Angel Stephens. Roberts was represented by Attorney-at-law Everton Singh-Lammy. The three men were jointly charged following legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in connection with the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima, Guyana’s worst maritime disaster. The charge alleges that the three accused murdered 68 named victims and other persons unknown at a point 9.3 nautical miles on a bearing of 040 degrees off the Essequibo Coast at Devonshire Castle on July 18, 2026, when the MV Barima capsized during its voyage. The charge identifies the victims as 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 Bautista, Youlanda Marks, Gwenette Marks, Shenira Smith, Cleiveliz Fraser, Vivianna Saddurddin, Argelys Kelly Williams, Devon Mars, Robina Hernandez, Tendhi Stanford, Adans Williams, Ranaldo Poon, Aarave Daniels, Marcia Beharry, Leonard Persaud, Mariam Bernard, Ravindra Singh, Shivana LaCruz Ramsindo, Christiani Rodrigues, Annalisa Murray and Owen Arthur.
Also named are 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, Elizabeth Bowin, Argany Williams, Omarions Europe, Jacob Jerome, Mark Abrams, Ashleena Bovell, Kyle Thomas, Carlton Bennett, Navessa Bovell, Martin Ishmael and Jason Headley.
The men first appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on July 28, where they were not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder before being remanded to prison.
The matter was subsequently transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court.
The MV Barima, a passenger and cargo ferry, departed the Kingston Goods Wharf in Georgetown at approximately 15:15h on July 18, 2026, on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), carrying passengers, crew and cargo. At about 23:01h., the vessel transmitted a distress signal after encountering difficulties off the Essequibo Coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River, triggering Guyana’s largest maritime search-and-rescue operation. Authorities later confirmed that 179 people had been aboard the vessel, including 18 crew members. The disaster claimed 73 lives, while 76 people survived and about 30 remain missing. A day after the disaster, Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips disclosed that two crew members, including the captain, had tested positive for cannabis. Price and another crew member were subsequently arrested, while Granderson was arrested as investigations progressed. Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali has established a five-member Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to, among other things, examine the circumstances surrounding the sinking, regulatory oversight and the emergency response.
DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, has maintained that the criminal proceedings will not be affected by the Commission’s work, stressing that the inquiry and the prosecution can proceed simultaneously. The institution of the charge also triggered protests by relatives and supporters of the accused, who called for their release and demanded accountability from Government officials.