Scores of passengers were still aboard the MV Ma Lisha last night, more than seven hours after the vessel was scheduled to depart Georgetown for Kumaka.
Passengers began arriving at the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) wharf well ahead of the scheduled 3 pm departure. Among them were families with small children, while large amounts of luggage and cargo were also awaiting loading.
However, by late last evening, the vessel had still not departed and passengers were becoming increasingly anxious.
“This is your captain speaking. Sorry for the delay, but we are trying to get all safety measures and other things in place to ensure a safe journey. Just bear with us,” passengers were told over the public address system after waiting for several hours.
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and Parliamentary Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley visited the vessel at around 10 pm.
Mohamed later said that, based on information provided to him, the vessel was expected to depart within another two hours. He said inspections were being carried out and acknowledged that the crew was under considerable stress.
Sarabo-Halley said she understood the pressure facing the crew, noting that three of their colleagues had been charged with 72 counts of murder following the MV Barima tragedy. She also requested that food be provided for the stranded passengers, as there is no canteen aboard the vessel.
Mohamed called for a senior official to visit the wharf and address the passengers, whom he numbered over 200. He also claimed that it was after he arrived on the vessel that the air conditioner was put on.
One passenger told him that some persons had been at the wharf since 9 am yesterday.
“We, the Amerindian people, need to get up and stand up for our rights,” the passenger said, as she questioned how persons were expected to endure so many hours without food.
“You say you love the Indigenous people, but you don’t love them,” she added, while calling for Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill to resign.
It is believed that the delay resulted from additional precautions being taken following the sinking of the MV Barima, in which more than 70 persons lost their lives and another 30 remain missing.
Passengers, however, argued that the necessary checks should have been completed before the scheduled departure, rather than leaving them—many with young children—to wait aboard the vessel for hours.
At least one passenger left the vessel with her young child at around 11pm because of the long wait.
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