Family and loved ones of little Vince Wong gathered on Friday at the tarmac of the Parika Salem Primary School for a prayer service in his memory, as the family continues to grapple with his loss more than two months after the MV Barima disaster.
The service was marked by prayer and reflection, with relatives and friends coming together to honour Vince’s life and pray for his soul.
Vince, a two-year-old boy, was aboard the MV Barima when the vessel sank on July 18, 2026, during its journey from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
He is the grandchild of MV Barima survivor Helena Moonsammy, who previously recounted the desperate moments when the vessel suddenly tilted and capsized.
Moonsammy told Kiskadee Watch that the vessel tilted suddenly after a wave struck, causing water to rush inside. She described trying to save Vince as passengers struggled to escape, while boxes and cargo trapped people inside the vessel.
Despite her efforts, she was unable to save the little boy.
Vince was among a number of children from the Moonsammy family who were aboard the MV Barima that night. His cousins Viviana Sadruddin, Robina Hernandez and Akeela Rodrigues were also among those caught in the disaster. Funerals were subsequently held for Viviana, Robina and Akeela.
Vince, however, remains among those whose bodies have not been recovered.
His grandmother Helena and other surviving members of the family have been left to mourn while still carrying the painful uncertainty surrounding the recovery of his remains.
The MV Barima disaster occurred on July 18 after the vessel departed Georgetown at about 3:15 p.m. bound for Port Kaituma.
At the time, Kiskadee Watch reported that the vessel was carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew members. Sixty-seven people, including 15 children, were initially reported rescued as the search-and-rescue effort intensified.
The tragedy ultimately left dozens dead and others unaccounted for, prompting an extensive recovery operation involving local authorities and international assistance.
The sunken vessel was located after the disaster, and recovery teams faced difficult underwater conditions as they worked to retrieve bodies from inside and around the wreck.
The tragedy also resulted in criminal charges against three employees of the Transport and Harbours Department Kevin Price, Rondell Dwayne Roberts and Delon Granderson in connection with the disaster.
A Commission of Inquiry was also established to examine the circumstances surrounding the sinking, including the vessel’s loading, passenger management, seaworthiness, maintenance, crew conduct and compliance with safety requirements.
But for families such as the Moonsammys, the disaster remains far more than an investigation, a recovery operation or a set of official figures.
It is the loss of children, grandchildren, parents and loved ones.
For Vince’s family, Friday’s gathering at the Parika Salem Primary School tarmac offered a moment to pause amid that continuing grief to pray, remember and honour the life of a little boy whose family is still waiting for the chance to bring him home.
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