-says PM thanked him for his work in recovering bodies
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Wednesday expressed little confidence in a locally conducted investigation into the MV Barima tragedy and called for international agencies, including the FBI and Scotland Yard, to be involved in an independent probe.
Speaking with reporters, Mohamed said an external investigation was necessary to ensure justice for the families of those who perished.
He urged relatives to exercise caution before signing any documents, citing what he said were concerns arising from the aftermath of the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire, where families had said they were asked to sign documents without fully understanding their contents.
Turning to the ongoing search and recovery operation, Mohamed said he has been assisting in locating bodies at sea and coordinating with authorities.
He explained that when bodies are spotted, their coordinates are recorded and shared with the Coast Guard so that recovery teams can retrieve them.
Mohamed said that after he posted the location of a body, he received a telephone call from Prime Minister Mark Phillips.
“And after I posted it, the Honourable Mark Phillips, Prime Minister, called me and asked what is happening, if indeed we’re out here. And I told him, yes, we’re out here. And he thanked me for what I’m doing to assist with the search and recovery. And he gave me five numbers that I can contact,” Mohamed said.
He also described some of the recoveries as distressing, recalling the sighting of the bodies of a woman and a two-year-old child.
Mohamed said local divers had estimated that the vessel was lying between 10 and 20 feet below the surface and that many bodies were believed to still be trapped inside.
According to Mohamed, he has been involved in the search and recovery effort for the past four days and intends to remain in the area throughout the week to assist in recovering bodies and providing closure to families.
He said criticism from politicians and members of the public had not deterred his involvement, maintaining that his participation was motivated by humanitarian concerns.
Mohamed also criticised the government’s handling of transportation to Region One, arguing that many residents rely on the ferry service because air travel is prohibitively expensive.
“Because that is why most persons use the ferry, because the flights to Port Kaituma is US$150. And you got to pay US$15 or $3,000 on the ferry. So they prefer to use the ferry, although it’s about a 20-hour trip from Georgetown to Port Kaituma,” he said.
He contended that the government had failed to adequately address the transportation needs of residents in hinterland communities.
Mohamed said survivors with whom he had spoken consistently described the vessel as overloaded and poorly maintained.
According to him, survivors reported that cargo was loaded without being weighed and that water began entering the vessel shortly after it departed.
“They said it was overloaded. I heard they don’t even have a scale to weigh things there. They just put it on and look at the waterline on the vessel and get an average. And while the vessel was leaving, water was coming in. The stories are consistent. The vessel was overloaded,” he asserted.
He further said that survivors told him the vessel sank at about 10.30 pm and that rescue boats did not reach them until around 5 am.
Mohamed also criticised what he described as the government’s delayed emergency response, questioning why helicopters were not deployed during the rescue effort.
“I’m out here to assist with my fellow brothers and sisters because the families are reaching out to me. And I want to recover as much bodies as we can, because at the end of the day, I don’t know who can help me in return,” he said.
He commended members of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard and local fishermen for their role in the search and recovery operation.
Mohamed also announced that he intends to bring a motion of no confidence against the minister with responsibility for maritime safety, arguing that accountability is required for the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
He further advised the families of persons detained in relation to the investigation to prepare for the possibility that they could be held for up to 72 hours and urged them to retain legal representation.
Mohamed also encouraged relatives and members of the public to preserve and share any evidence, including communications records, that could assist in establishing the circumstances leading up to the tragedy.
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