A heated verbal exchange erupted outside the Parliament Dome at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre yesterday between Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Hadiyyah Mohamed, sister of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, as she and the family of the late Cleriannys Valenzuela gathered to demand accountability for the MV Barima tragedy.
Moments prior, a demonstration, organised by the joint opposition and attended by relatives of victims of the July 18 maritime disaster, called for the immediate resignation of Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, accusing the government of negligence in relation to the tragedy and its aftermath.
As the Prime Minister arrived for the sitting of the National Assembly, Mohamed confronted him over the government’s handling of the incident.
“Your negligence made all of their relatives die. It is your negligence, Sir,” she declared.
As the exchange continued, Mohamed repeatedly objected to the Prime Minister’s tone, saying, “Do not yell at me, Sir. Do not touch me either. Do not yell at me.”
She also defended her right to speak out, stating, “I am a private citizen. No one is influencing anyone… This is freedom. Freedom of speech. Are we under a dictatorship?”
Mohamed went on to accuse the government of mishandling the recovery operation, alleging, “You buried their relatives with an excavator, sir… while the sitting minister stood and watched that excavator dump that mud on their bodies.”
The Prime Minister was heard responding, “When? Where? When?” before stating that authorities were “correcting” the burial of the families with excavators he stated “we are building the tomb”
He turned and told Mohamed that what she was doing was horrible and “get from here” he exclaimed.
As the confrontation intensified, Mohamed turned to those gathered outside Parliament dome and on the live Facebook feed and said, “The world is hearing you, a man, yelling at a woman. You, a man, yelling at a young lady.”
During the exchange, the Prime Minister was also heard telling Mohamed that her behaviour was irresponsible prompting her to respond, “Yes, I’m glad. The world heard. The world heard, everybody you a man yelling at a young lady”.
Following the incident, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed released a video statement condemning the Prime Minister’s conduct.
“What is wrong with you, Mark Phillips? Before 2020 you were like a lamb. You were very quiet. What happened to you today? The power fly to y’all head, man, that you could talk to people anyhow?” he said.
He further expressed surprise at the Prime Minister’s treatment of his sister, adding, “I am surprised at your behaviour. That girl could’ve been your granddaughter.”
The confrontation came as protesters gathered outside Parliament to renew calls for accountability over the MV Barima tragedy, which claimed dozens of lives and has sparked widespread public outrage. Families of victims and opposition supporters have continued to demand answers over both the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the vessel and the government’s handling of the recovery efforts.
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