Raul Frank, a sailor who is still missing following the MV Barima tragedy, had repeatedly told his family about the persistent mechanical problems affecting the boat and wanted the same ill-fated day to be his last journey with it before requesting a transfer.
Royston Frank, the father of the 33-year-old employee of Transport and Harbours Department (TH&D), recalled these details in an interview with Kiskadee Watch recently. He said his son’s goal was to pursue a transfer to another ship because he no longer felt comfortable working aboard it.
According to him, the vessel had experienced engine problems on numerous occasions, including an incident earlier this year when its engine reportedly burnt out and had to be repaired. He said those issues were well known among those who worked on the vessel.
Raul, who worked with T&HD for about eight years, had told his family that he did not want to continue working on a boat that he believed had ongoing problems. “He said that was going to be his last trip,” Royston Frank recalled, adding, “After that, he was going to try to get a transfer to another boat because he didn’t want to continue working on that one with all the problems it had.”
Raul, who was from Number 40 Village, Berbice, was the father of a nine-year-old child. At the time of the interview last Thursday, he remained on the list of persons missing following the tragedy.
Remembering his son, Royston Frank described him as a kind and humble man who was well respected by those who knew him. “Ask anyone and they will tell you he was nice to everyone and a humble man. That’s the kind of person he was,” he expressed.
Frank, with his wife and daughter Esther and Natasha, was among those calling recently for President Irfaan Ali to raise the boat. 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,” he lamented.
Frank dismissed suggestions that family members had 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.”
The MV Barima, last July 18, capsized in rough seas near the mouth of the Pomeroon River while en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma in Region One. The vessel had departed the capital shortly after 3:00 p.m. carrying passengers, crew and cargo before issuing a distress call at approximately 11:00 p.m.
The disaster triggered one of Guyana’s largest maritime search and rescue operations. Over several days, rescue teams recovered dozens of survivors while also locating the bodies of many victims. Despite the extensive operation, several passengers and crew members remained unaccounted for – at least 30. Search teams combed hundreds of square miles of ocean, with divers and aerial surveillance deployed.
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