MV Barima Tragedy: “We’ll leave no stone unturned” – Pres Ali vows full accountability in message to Parliament

…joint Opposition declines Speaker’s invitation to address grieving families

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday declared that his Government would “leave no stone unturned” in determining the circumstances surrounding the MV Barima Tragedy that has left this country in mourning, as he called for unity and support. Invoking Article 67(2) of the Constitution, in a message delivered to the National Assembly yesterday by Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, the President lamented on the trauma the nation has faced and reminded that he remains committed to support. Nandlall’s task was not made easy, as when he rose to speak most of the Opposition parliaments descended on the floor with disruptive chants, as they protested Government’s handling of the disaster. Every word Nandlall read saw an attempted drowning out through protest chants, in unison, of “Who must go? Edghill and Indar!” But the AG was indomitable in his stance, as he read on the from the message where President Ali committed to providing the nation with the support systems needed to cope and heal from the tragedy. “I therefore assure this Honourable House and the nation that the Government will leave no stone unturned in determining the full circumstances that gave rise to this catastrophe. This will be done not only to answer the many questions weighing heavily on the minds and hearts of our people, but also to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated,” a seemingly unfazed Nadlall read.
The President also reiterated his stance since the disaster struck last Saturday, that the country’s immediate priority remained supporting affected families while ensuring that the inquiry establishes the facts necessary to strengthen Guyana’s maritime safety framework. “To these families, this does not end with the recovery operation. It will continue for as long as necessary. We shall walk with them through their grief, assist them in rebuilding their lives and ensure that they never face this burden alone,” Ali expressed. The message of unity was underscored to screams from the opposition, “I appeal to every Member of this Honourable House, and indeed to every citizen, not to allow this tragedy to become a source of division among us. Let it instead become a moment that forges a stronger, more compassionate and united Guyana,” Nandlall said. “In responding to this tragedy, we must therefore look beyond the immediate pain and recognise the deeper test before us—not only of our institutions, but of our collective spirit as a people,” he added. The President stated that on the night of July 18, the Barima, en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, capsized suddenly at sea and “By every account presently available, the vessel went under very quickly, leaving little time for crew and passengers to adopt life-saving measures.” The death and survival toll has been staggering; seventy-six rescued, seventy-three bodies recovered, and several passengers still unaccounted for, as the President noted that “A tragedy of unimaginable proportions ensued. Our nation today bleeds from the calamitous loss of many of its sons and daughters. No words can truly capture the depth of grief that has descended upon our country. This tragedy has shaken our Republic to its very foundations. It has left an ache in every community, in every home, and in every heart. It is a wound that we will carry together, and one that history will forever record among the greatest sorrows of our nation. The President’s address also reiterated his announcements of an independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) that will investigate the events leading up to and surrounding the sinking of the vessel.

He said the commission would include experts in maritime safety, disaster investigations, marine engineering, admiralty law and maritime security.
The inquiry will be chaired by Justice Godfrey Smith of Belize, the CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an ad hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. Other members include Polish naval architect Dr Andrzej Jasionowski, Jamaican maritime surveyor Captain Hamada Fouda, Trinidadian Maritime Attorney Nyree Dawn Alfonso and retired Trinidad and Tobago Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard. The President said the composition of the body reflected the need for specialised expertise and public confidence in the investigation. The inquiry, he noted, is expected to examine several areas, including passenger capacity and boarding procedures, vessel maintenance records, compliance with maritime regulations, emergency preparedness, search and rescue operations, weather conditions, possible overcrowding and whether any negligence or misconduct contributed to the disaster, as accountability would be a major objective of the process.

“The truth must be established”
“The truth must be established. The lessons must be learned. The reforms must be implemented. And where failures, negligence or wrongdoing are identified, accountability must follow,” he said. The HEART (Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust) Initiative, a Government programme designed to provide long-term support to survivors and families affected by the tragedy and announced on Sunday, was also highlighted, with the President saying that the response would extend beyond immediate relief efforts and would include financial, psychological, emotional, and social assistance. The Government, he pledged, remains fully committed to providing sustained material, financial, psychological and emotional support to the families of those who perished and to those who survived.

Joint-Opposition decline
During the sitting, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir offered Opposition representatives an opportunity to speak on the tragedy and address the grieving families, but they declined. Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who has been sanctioned by the United States (US) and indicted, was allocated five minutes to express his views on the tragedy, while Leader of the Opposition parliamentary group, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Terrence Campbell, was allocated two minutes.
However, both declined to use the allotted speaking time to say anything.
Instead, the Opposition members pressed on with their protest proceedings in the House, resulting in disruption that saw the Speaker many times calling for order and cautioning against inappropriate behaviour. It is unclear if any of the opposition members heard the President’s appeal to Guyanese, to find strength in faith. “It is my prayer that the Creator of the Universe will continue to surround every grieving family with His comforting presence.” He called for unity, warning against division: “Let this tragedy not become a moment that pulls us apart, but rather one that brings us closer.”