The entire management team responsible for the loading, dispatch, and overall management of the MV Barima has been sent off from duty, release from the Ministry of Public Works said today.
This action, as outlined by Prime Minister Mark Phillips during a recent press conference, aims to guarantee the absolute integrity of the upcoming inquiry, the release said. By removing the team from the workplace, the government intends to prevent any potential tampering with or interference in evidence and materials, thereby ensuring a completely fair and unprejudiced outcome.
As part of the soon to come investigation, video footage from the Kingston Goods Wharf—the point of departure for the MV Barima—has already been extracted by the Guyana Police Force for a comprehensive review, the release added. This critical surveillance data is expected to provide vital insights into the sequence of events leading up to the incident.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill convened a late-night meeting with the senior management staff of the Transport and Harbours Department, including the General Manager. During this briefing, the team was formally notified of the suspension and the administrative steps moving forward.
The Ministry and the Government of Guyana have reiterated their unwavering commitment to conducting a thorough, transparent, and exhaustive investigation into this tragedy to ensure full accountability, the release added.
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