-say will not sign away their rights
The family of MV Barima Chief Engineer Paul Seepersad, who died in the July 18 tragedy, is refusing to accept what they say was a proposed government settlement that would require them to sign away their rights in relation to the disaster.
A relative told Kiskadee Watch that lawyers representing the family indicated that they would be required to sign documents absolving the government of responsibility in exchange for a settlement.
The family member said they have no intention of accepting the arrangement.
According to the family member, government representatives contacted the family and indicated that lawyers would be made available to them. However, discussions surrounding a possible settlement have left the family questioning the terms attached to any compensation.
The family member said they were told, in effect, that after receiving the settlement, the family would have to sign away their rights.
The revelation comes more than two months after the MV Barima sank while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma on July 18, killing scores of people and leaving families demanding answers over what led to the disaster.
Seepersad was serving as chief engineer aboard the vessel when it sank.
A family member told Kiskadee Watch that Seepersad had worked on boats for more than two decades.
The family member said Seepersad had previously expressed concerns about boats and had indicated that he did not always want to go out to sea when there were problems.
For his family, the final night before he left for work has become one of the most painful memories.
The family member said they spent time with Seepersad and his two younger children that night. What appeared to be an ordinary evening watching TikTok videos, sharing favourite clips and spending time together would become their final night together.
They said the memory continues to haunt them because neither they nor Seepersad’s younger children could know they were seeing their loved one for the last time.
The family member said there have been no meaningful developments for the family in relation to the Commission of Inquiry and that they have not been contacted to provide statements.
The family has received some counselling support, they said, with a person contacting them periodically to check on their wellbeing. But they described the grieving process as difficult, with some days proving particularly hard.
The MV Barima sank while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma on July 18, leaving dozens dead and triggering a major search, recovery and rescue operation.
Government figures placed 179 people aboard the vessel, including 76 survivors, while dozens of bodies were recovered and others were initially reported missing.
A Commission of Inquiry was subsequently established to examine the circumstances surrounding the disaster, while three crew members were charged with murder.
For the Seepersad family, however, the tragedy has not ended with the recovery of their loved one.
The family member said they do not want to sign away their rights and are unwilling to accept an arrangement they believe would absolve the government of responsibility for what happened to Seepersad.
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