-demand vessel recovery and release of jailed crew
Relatives of victims of the MV Barima disaster returned to protest outside the Office of the President yesterday, vowing to continue demonstrating every Tuesday until their demands for the recovery of the boat, the release of jailed crew members and the removal of two government ministers are addressed.
Representatives of the Cort family, the Thomas family, and supporters of Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson, were among those represented at the demonstration.
The protesters said they remain united in demanding the recovery of the MV Barima, which sank off Guyana’s coast on July 18, as well as the release of crew members who remain on remand in connection with the disaster.
“We are united demanding the boat he salvaged, release of innocent who were imprisoned and removal of the two subject ministers. We are not going to forget,” said Jasmin Cort, daughter of Neil Cort who is still missing along with his brother Kenrick.
She said yesterday’s protest forms part of a weekly protest that will continue every Tuesday.
The demands come as the legal proceedings against the three MV Barima crew members continue. Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Roberts and Goods Superintendent Granderson were jointly charged with murder over the deaths arising from the disaster and remain on remand.
The three men were further remanded after prosecutors confirmed that full disclosure of the evidence had been provided to the defence. The defence has also filed an application challenging the proceedings as an alleged abuse of process, with the court set to rule on the application on October 19.
The MV Barima, an 87-year-old vessel, capsized while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, Region One. Seventy-three people have been confirmed dead, while 76 were rescued and about 30 remain unaccounted for.
The continued calls for the vessel to be raised are also linked to the families’ desire to recover the remains of those still missing and obtain closure.
Relatives of Neil and Kenrick Cort, who remain among those unaccounted for, have previously staged protests demanding that the vessel be salvaged. Neil Cort had spent decades working with the Transport and Harbours Department and was operating the vessel’s canteen at the time of the tragedy.
The issue of salvaging the vessel has also become a major point of contention between the government and families and supporters. The government recently opened tenders for the salvage operation, with three companies submitting bids ranging from approximately $1.034 billion to $2.035 billion.
The protesters are also demanding the removal of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, holding the two ministers politically responsible for issues surrounding the disaster.
President Irfaan Ali has previously said that any administrative or executive action concerning calls for the removal or suspension of Edghill and Indar would depend on the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the disaster.
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