With tears overflowing, photos of loved ones in hand, and nothing but sad, grief-stricken faces, family members of victims of the MV Barima tragedy yesterday came together to make a call to President Irfaan Ali to bring up the vessel that many of them believe still contain their loved ones.
Even if the bodies are not inside the vessel, family members want to be able to rule out the possibility. Even if a dress or a pants or some item is found in the vessel, they want to have it, they shared. “Even if we get back the bones only, we want it,” one father expressed, like many others.
The families, some of whom have already buried other loved ones, are longing for closure in this way. Many of them stated that the government has the resources needed for the task at hand and should not spare any efforts in doing all it possibly can.
Further, several of them questioned how the Commission of Inquiry into the tragedy could be effectively conducted if the boat is not brought up and pondered whether the government has anything it wants to hide from the public.
The families were given an opportunity to voice their concerns by Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed at his residence at Houston, East Bank Demerara. General Secretary of Mohamed’s political party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Odessa Primus, and Member of Parliament Natasha Singh-Lewis were also there with the families.
Royston Frank, who lost his son Raul Frank, a sailor, was in attendance with his wife and daughter, Esther and Natasha Frank. Up to now, he said there has been no trace of Raul. “My one desire is for the boat to come up,” he expressed, adding that the country has big companies and divers whom he was sure would not say no to helping.
“My heart is bleeding for my child,” the father lamented, as he recalled how it was his son’s intention not to return to work on the boat after he took his leave. His son, he said, always told the family about the shortcomings of the boat, including how it was working with just one engine.
Frank dismissed suggestions that family members have asked the President to make the area a memorial site, questioning who in their right mind would make such a request and not prefer that every effort is made to locate the missing persons. “Is like we would be saying halt all operations…I never know any family that decided this. Even if we get back the bones only, we want it; I am satisfied. This boat must lift.”
Jasmin Cort, who lost her father Neil Cort and his brother Kenrick Cort in the disaster, shared that when she interacted with the President last Wednesday, she made it clear that no expenses should be spared in bringing up the vessel. “We deserve to have closure and to know what happened to them,” she stated.
Tianie Thomas, who lost her two young brothers, said she was tired of waiting. After burying one of her brothers lately, she said the family still doesn’t have closure as 13-year-old Brian is still missing. “I need the boat to raise. Even if is my brother’s bones, I need to get it,” she said.
Leroy and Eve Jerome are parents to Jacob, whom they buried last Sunday and Aliyah, who is still missing. “Bring up the boat. I will be happier. Even if I get her dress,” the mother said in tears. The father said the family reached out to Mohamed because they wanted to know what happened to their children. “Even our children’s clothes; we want it. I can’t sleep or eat,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, Mohamed called on the international community and Guyanese in the diaspora for support. He questioned how much it would cost to lift the boat and said the opposition is willing to approve any amount of funds in parliament to do so.
He advised families not to allow themselves to be forced to sign any documents, reminding that he has a legal team to represent them to ensure that they get what they deserve. “You must be handsomely compensated,” he said.
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