-death toll climbs to 73
The number of bodies recovered from the wreck of the MV Barima has risen to 73 after divers retrieved another victim from inside the vessel yesterday and Prime Minister Mark Phillips said the government has not yet considered the Opposition’s request to be involved in developing the terms of reference for the promised Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the disaster.
Providing the latest update on the search and recovery operation at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Kingston, Georgetown, Phillips said one body was recovered during one of five dives conducted yesterday. France has supplied a team of divers.
The PM said 69 of the 73 of the recovered bodies have been positively identified, with 63 already released to their families and six more scheduled to be transported to their respective communities for burial. According to him, 22 funerals had been completed as of yesterday.
The search area has also been expanded by an additional 32 square miles, stretching west to Waini Point and east to Adventure, while 17 assets, comprising three aircraft and 14 maritime vessels, remain engaged in the operation. “These operations will continue for as long as necessary to ensure that every possible effort is made to account for those affected with the utmost care, dignity and respect,” Phillips said.
Responding to questions from Kiskadee Watch about whether the Opposition would be consulted on the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry, Phillips said that the government has not yet discussed it. “I saw the opposition press conference. They requested to be consulted, to be involved. That’s a decision government will have to make,” he said, adding, “Government promised an independent Commission of Inquiry, and that’s a decision government will have to make. We have not discussed that decision or discussed that request as yet.”
Asked about the roughly 30 people who remain unaccounted for based on the government’s latest figures, Phillips assured families that search and recovery efforts remain the administration’s highest priority. “The government told the families exactly what I read here. We will continue to search. Search and rescue operations remain a priority,” he said, adding, “We had overflights today of the area and we keep searching, searching, searching. Hopefully we may find some more bodies.”
He said divers entered the submerged vessel five times yesterday in an effort to locate additional victims and bring closure to grieving families. “I feel for them. I feel for their family,” Phillips told Kiskadee Watch.
The Prime Minister also provided an update on the condition of the wreck, saying the vessel remains lying on its side underwater and has not yet been moved. “There has been no movement of the vessel,” he said, explaining that muddy water and poor visibility continue to make underwater operations difficult.
Divers have instead been removing tarpaulins and other obstructions from the side of the vessel to improve access before any decision is made on attempting to right the ferry. “No such activity has been done as yet. Strictly diving operation in progress.” He noted that divers did not report seeing additional bodies during Friday’s dives but said more could be discovered as access to the vessel improves.
Addressing questions about accountability, Phillips said no one has been dismissed in connection with the tragedy. “Nobody is being fired,” he stated. “Because we have an investigation to go through.” Some persons have instead been sent on leave pending the outcome of investigations, he noted.
Phillips was not in a position to say whether the captain issued a Mayday distress call or instructed passengers to put on life jackets before the vessel capsized, saying those matters would be determined during the Commission of Inquiry.
“I don’t want to answer any question that should be properly placed before the captain and other crew members who may still be alive or witnesses among the survivors. Those questions will be placed at the appropriate time in keeping with the legal framework of the Commission of Inquiry”, he said.
The MV Barima tragedy occurred late on Saturday, July 18, when the state-owned passenger and cargo ferry capsized while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, Region One, after departing Georgetown earlier that afternoon.
Although the original manifest listed 133 people, investigations later confirmed that 179 passengers and crew were aboard, exposing major discrepancies in passenger records and prompting a criminal investigation.
The disaster triggered Guyana’s largest maritime search and recovery operation, involving the Guyana Defence Force, Coast Guard, private vessels, aircraft, local fishermen and international assistance from France, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago. Authorities have since located the wreck on the seabed, where specialist divers continue underwater recovery efforts amid poor visibility and strong currents.
The government has announced an independent Commission of Inquiry will examine the causes of the disaster and any operational or institutional failures, while police investigations continue and several officials have been sent on administrative leave pending the outcome.
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