Every avenue must be pursued with due haste to raise the Barima

Dear Editor, 

Events in relation to the terrible incident of the MV Barima seem to be heading towards another disaster, that is the dismantling and destruction of what remains of our democracy and a sense of decency. We have dealt with the highly improper manner in which the five commissioners were named, ex cathedra by our Head of state. As if this was not enough, the five commissioners were reportedly sworn in at a ceremony to which members of the independent media were not invited. Three cheers for those who boast of a ‘free press’, but what is egregious is we have articles published questioning, with tones of expertise, the feasibility of attempting to raise the ill-fated MV Barima. Of course, one writer goes out of the way to question the character of the Leader of the Opposition, completely irrelevant to the issue at hand, which is the bringing to the surface of the MV Barima. Salvaging the vessel with the hull intact or damaged, can help us find some answers, not all, of the factors that caused the greatest of maritime tragedies in Guyana. In other words, every effort, every avenue, must be pursued with due haste to raise the Barima. This must be a sine qua non, no sand-dancing, no suggesting it cannot, or ought not to be proceeded with. This is not a time for prophets of doom, not a time for procrastination which will take us further away from knowing the whole story, and the prospects of avoiding further mistakes.    

Noting recent things said and done by the top brass, it is not difficult to assume that we are in a silly season orchestrated by a well-organised professional information outfit. An example; we appoint five commissioners to investigate the Barima tragedy, yet as I dictate this letter, we are yet to learn details of the specifics of the terms of reference, and the cost to taxpayers. 

Next, we have Captain Kevin Price, of the Barima vessel and two crew members charged, not for manslaughter, not for dereliction of duties, not for incompetence, not for causing death by dangerous captaincy, but for murder, the most serious of offences, in circumstances where they are likely for their own protection, using American jargon, to “plead the fifth amendment”. I believe as part of the process of deception, deflection or distraction, these innocent men were charged for an offence where they were not required to plead when taken to court. If our astute police are serious, how could they charge three persons, in just a few days after the incident, for 73 counts of murder? I congratulate the police for their unusual swiftness. The trio was taken to the Magistrate’s Court in Georgetown, the city from which the ill-fated vessel departed, now the next hearing is in a Court at Charity in the Pomeroon, away from the glare of Georgetown where the majority of citizens reside and have an interest in this matter. This indictment, as a layman, gives the impression that some oracle has already determined the cause of death, so why spend money for a commission?

I am a simple man, but I ponder why, even the suggestion to make the place where the vessel capsized a sort of memorial site, is maybe another case of deliberate deception, deflection or distraction. 

In Guyana, are we serious or are we pursuing a path that later generations may deem collective lunacy? We buy new vessels, but send one of the oldest, if not the oldest, on the most challenging journey. We have evidence that this boat should have been in drydock. There are reports that modern and available emergency systems were not all in place. After the tragedy the first narrative was that we didn’t need external help, with hundreds of people overboard; lopsided logic, or lunacy? We also heard that it was a “big wave” that caused the vessel to capsize. It was ordinary fishermen who helped to locate where the Barima was.

But as noted earlier, this avoidable tragedy is being used by the powers that be, as deception, deflection and distraction. But I truly believe that there is a deeper problem facing us in Guyana, which is, the existence of the Peter Principle beginning at the very top, that is a condition where reasonable persons promoted, become ineffective or a disaster to function at a higher level. Think about it.

Sincerely,

Elder Hamilton Green