Human rights activist Sherlina Nageer says Guyanese will not forget the MV Barima tragedy so easily and that continued weekly protests demonstrate that victims’ families and supporters remain determined to demand accountability despite expectations that public attention would eventually fade.
“We know that they think that people forget and people have short memories and short attention spans and they’re counting on us to forget, get tired, go away,” Nageer told Kiskadee Watch at yesterday’s protest.
“But the fact that this protest is continuing, I think is a sign that things are not the way they used to be,” she observed.
Nageer, who joined other protesters outside the Office of the President on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, described the disaster as the largest in Guyana’s history and contended that the loss of life was preventable. “This is the largest disaster in Guyanese history. That is significant. This was a completely preventable disaster,” she expressed.
She also called attention to repeated failures by the State to ensure accountability for loss of life. “This ferry was owned by the state…there have been multiple failures of state in terms of accountability and loss of lives over the years,” she said.
The MV Barima, a state-owned vessel travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, capsized and sank off Guyana’s coast in July, killing 73 people while 76 survived and dozensothers are missing.
A Commission of Inquiry is now being established to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy with the Commission expected to begin formally taking evidence next Wednesday.
Secretary to the Commission Javed Shadick said yesterday that more than 100 potential witnesses have been identified, including survivors, relatives of those who died, first responders and officials.
Meanwhile, relatives and supporters of victims have continued to stage protests, maintaining pressure on the government for answers and accountability.
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