MV Barima tragedy-Search & recovery operation will continue “for as long as necessary” – PM

– says independent COI to commence soon; foreign agencies could be involved

Even as divers battle harsh conditions in the Atlantic to reach the sunken MV Barima, Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips states that the search and recovery operation will continue until they have recovered most, if not all, of the remaining bodies that are still unaccounted for.
“Search and recovery operations remain a national priority, with personnel and resources fully committed to the effort. These operations will continue for as long as necessary to ensure that every possible effort is made to account for those affected with the utmost care, dignity, and respect,” Phillips declared on Friday during his late update on the tragedy.

The MV Barima capsized off the Essequibo Coast last Saturday night while en route to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), with 179 passengers onboard. According to PM Phillips, the death toll from this tragic boat accident has risen to 73 following the discovery of another body earlier on Friday. Of the 73 bodies recovered, 69 have been positively identified, with 63 of them already handed over to family members for funeral rites, for which the Government is covering all expenses. Additionally, six more bodies are scheduled to be transported to their respective communities to be laid to rest.
So far, funeral services have been held across the country for 22 victims of the MV Barima tragedy.
However, the number of people rescued from last weekend’s ferry accident remains at 76, with at least 30 persons still missing. Nevertheless, the search and recovery operations continue offshore, with 17 aerial and maritime assets conducting surveillance along the coastline in hopes of recovering those missing persons.

Find more bodies
The sunken ferry was found lying on the seabed approximately nine miles off the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), on Monday. Since then, technical teams have been trying to reposition the MV Barima, which is lying on its side on the seafloor. The aim is to have the vessel positioned on its keel in order to bring it closer to shore where divers can safely enter.
“There is a view that if we right the vessel, that itself may lead to us finding some more bodies,” the PM stated during Friday’s briefing.
But he noted, “There has been no movement of the vessel.” Guyana is receiving support from regional partners, including the French Guiana army, the Brazilian navy, and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, which have deployed maritime assets and personnel, including divers, to aid in recovering the missing persons. This publication understands that the divers, both local and foreign, managed to successfully attach cables and ropes to the sunken ferry on Wednesday. However, those closely involved in the recovery operation explained that when they try to pull the vessel, the cables and ropes kept bursting. Despite the rough Atlantic conditions and some divers even becoming sick, the teams remain adamant in their efforts to move the vessel. In fact, on Friday, at least five dives were carried out – each lasting about 45 to 60 minutes.

“But there will be challenges. There is the undercurrent – that’s a challenge. The water is not only murky but muddy, and therefore visibility is a big issue, but they have their equipment. They are experts in their field, and they will determine whether they can go and when they can go,” the PM explained.
According to Phillips, the diving operation is being carried out in two parts: to reposition the vessel so that it can be moved while also recovering bodies where possible. In fact, it was during one of the diving operations on Friday morning that the last body was recovered. “The divers…went down there. They had to trim off some of the tarpaulins and those things that would normally be at the side of the boat, and that made it easier for them to work. So, I would envisage that as they continue going down…they may find more bodies,” he asserted.

Independent Probe
Meanwhile, during Friday evening’s update, PM Phillips reiterated the Guyana Government’s commitment to conduct an independent Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into this horrific maritime accident as soon as possible. In fact, he pointed out that foreign agencies such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) could be called in to ensure the full independence of the upcoming probe.
“I did promise an independent inquiry, and if contacting IMO will help in this inquiry, we will do it. We will contact all the agencies that will assist in ensuring that the Guyanese people view this inquiry as an independent one,” Phillips stated. IMO is the United Nations’ (UN) specialised agency responsible for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping. According to the PM, while no decision has been made as to who will conduct the CoI as yet, some work has commenced on establishing the terms of reference (TOR).
“This is a process that will start immediately as we ease out of this current operation, which is a search and recovery. We’re still in the search and recovery phase of the operation, and of course, parts of the Government are already addressing this whole issue of… [putting] together terms of reference… Government is committed to an independent Commission of Inquiry at the earliest possible time… We have the list of survivors, and all of them can come and give evidence at the Commission of Inquiry. That’s why we want to do it as early as possible so it’s fresh in their memory, and they can come and present their statements,” Phillips stated.
The MV Barima departed the Georgetown stelling at about 15:00h on Saturday on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma, 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. Survivors have recalled that the ferry began tilting to one side before capsizing, throwing passengers into the water in less than a minute. A distress signal transmitted at approximately 23:01h was received by aviation authorities, triggering a large-scale multi-agency emergency response that still continues. Addressing concerns raised in the aftermath of the disaster, blood samples were taken from the captain and crew members for testing. Authorities released the results showing positive tests for cannabis and subsequently arrested the captain and two crew members. Another official from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), which manages ferry services, was also detained as part of the police investigation.
Subsequently, the Government, in its initial probe into the issue, uncovered that more people were aboard the vessel than had been recorded on the original passenger manifest. That information, along with the manifest, was immediately made public and resulted in several managers at the T&HD being sent off on suspension.