Former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament and Attorney-at-Law Charrandass Persaud has described the murder charges brought against three T&HD employees over the MV Barima disaster as “ludicrous”.
Persaud made the comments in a video statement, in which he questioned whether prosecutors could prove that the three accused had the intention to cause the deaths of passengers aboard the vessel.
“I want to ask this learned Senior Counsel, DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack if she is certain that these men, the three men, planned to kill 72 people on that ship,” Persaud said.
“The charge is not only ludicrous, it’s a display of pure stupidity.”
Persaud said while the loss of life in the July 18 maritime disaster was tragic, the precise circumstances that caused the vessel to sink have not yet been fully established.
“We don’t know the real cause,” he said, arguing that the vessel should be salvaged and examined.
“A lot of answers would come from finding that boat and examining the boat that sank,” Persaud added.
Persaud further criticised the DPP over her handling of a previous case involving a 12-year-old who was charged with murder.
His comments come as three Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) employees remain before the courts in connection with the MV Barima tragedy.
Captain Kevin Price, 40, was the captain of the vessel, while Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, served as Chief Mate. Delon Granderson, 33, was a Goods Superintendent attached to the Transport and Harbours Department.
The three men were charged with murder following the sinking of the MV Barima on July 18, 2026.
The vessel was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, Region One, when it capsized and sank, resulting in the deaths of dozens of passengers and crew.
Following the tragedy, the Government established a Commission of Inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding the sinking and determine the factors that contributed to the loss of life.
The inquiry is proceeding separately from the criminal case against Price, Roberts and Granderson.
Persaud maintained that the three men should not have been charged with murder and questioned the legal basis for the prosecution.
“Those three men should not be charged with murder,” he said. “Why are they facing murder charge in our courts? We will see how that unfolds.”
Discussion