-accuses gov’t of acting only after sustained pressure
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed last evening welcomed the government’s invitation for expressions of interest (EOI) to salvage the sunken MV Barima, but accused it of acting only after sustained public pressure and moving too slowly.
In a video posted on the Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, Mohamed described the announcement as “a victory for the people of Guyana”.
“It proves that, when we stand together and apply pressure, the government is forced to change course,” he said. “The government did not arrive at this decision on its own. It came only after sustained pressure from the opposition, from the grieving families and from the Guyanese people.”
Mohamed contended that, had there been no pressure, the vessel would have been left on the seabed.
The MV Barima sank 16 days ago while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, resulting in the deaths of 73 passengers and leaving others missing.
Mohamed said the salvage process should have begun two weeks ago and argued that every passing day allowed bodies trapped in the wreck to decompose further and potential evidence to deteriorate.
“This delay is unnecessary, cruel and avoidable,” he said.
He also objected to the EOI remaining open for another two weeks, saying that by the time the process closed, one month would have passed since the tragedy.
“When lives are lost and families are waiting for answers, you do not move at the pace of ordinary procurement. You act with urgency,” Mohamed said.
He noted that President Irfaan Ali had acknowledged receiving proposals to raise the vessel and said those proposals had been ignored. Mohamed had also publicly offered his resources and assistance to recover the ferry.
“As Leader of the Opposition, I took an oath to serve the people of this country and I remain ready and willing to assist in any way possible to ensure that this vessel is brought to the surface,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips had said the families of those still missing would decide whether the wreck should be raised. He did not acknowledge Mohamed’s offer during that announcement at a press conference.
Relatives were also given a document headed “Declaration of Agreement – MV Barima as Memorial Site”, which asked them to agree that the wreck should remain undisturbed on the seabed and be designated a memorial site. The government later acknowledged distributing the document.
Mohamed yesterday called for the vessel to be raised as intact as possible and preserved as evidence.
“The vessel should be raised as a whole, to the best as it possibly can. It should not come up as wreckage in pieces,” he said.
The Opposition Leader also demanded full transparency in the procurement process, saying the identities and experience of every company submitting an EOI should be made public, along with the basis upon which the successful contractor was selected.
“This cannot become another opportunity for friends, family members or politically connected persons to secure a contract they are not qualified for,” he said. “The country cannot afford another act of corruption or incompetence.”
Mohamed said the opposition would continue supporting the affected families and protesting until Public Works Minister Juan Edghill resigned.
“The decision to raise the MV Barima is the right one. The delay is not,” he declared.
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