Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, who has faced mounting calls for his resignation following the MV Barima disaster, has declared from the pulpit that he has been bitten by a “venomous beast” but will not die.
Edghill, the presiding bishop of Outreach Ministries International Winners’ Cathedral, made the remarks during his final address before the benediction at a church service.
Although he did not identify the “snake” or directly mention the MV Barima tragedy and the resignation demands, his remarks appeared to be a response to the sustained public criticism directed at him since the ferry capsized.
“I’ve been bitten by a snake, publicly, but I will not die,” Edghill told the congregation, as some members stood cheering, shouting hallelujah and raising their hands in the air. “So, a venomous beast has bitten me, but I will not die.”
He said he had thrown the snake into the fire and wanted the world to know that he loved everyone, including those who had spoken against him.
“I’m sending love to everyone who found it convenient, fashionable, to say something evil about me,” the minister said.
Edghill added that he had asked God to ensure that he harboured no hatred and maintained that the attacks directed at him would not define him.
“What’s around me does not define me. What’s inside of me defines me,” he said.
Addressing those whom he said were waiting for him to “swell up and die” after being bitten, Edghill declared: “I want to tell you, keep looking.”
The remarks came amid continuing demands from opposition parties, civil society activists and members of the public for Edghill to resign or be removed over the July 18 sinking of the state-operated MV Barima.
The 87-year-old ferry was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it capsized off Guyana’s coast. Seventy-three people were subsequently confirmed dead, 30 remained missing and 76 were rescued.
Questions have been raised about the accuracy of the passenger manifest, the vessel’s maintenance and seaworthiness, its loading and the regulatory oversight exercised by agencies under the Ministry of Public Works.
Opposition groups have also called for the removal of Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar.
Edghill initially rejected claims that the vessel was overloaded and said its documented cargo and passenger numbers were within its licensed capacity. The government subsequently acknowledged that the passenger manifest did not accurately reflect the number of people aboard.
The captain and two crew members have since been charged with murder and remanded to prison. President Irfaan Ali has also established a Commission of Inquiry into the disaster.
Those calling for Edghill’s resignation have argued that he should accept ministerial responsibility or step aside while the inquiry is conducted. The minister has not offered to resign.
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