MV Barima tragedy: Two confirmed dead; captain tested positive for narcotics

Two people who were travelling aboard the MV Barima, which capsized late on Saturday night, have been confirmed dead, and the Minister of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has described it as “criminal” that the captain tested positive for narcotics.

Edghill confirmed that the number of rescued remained at 67 – comprising 41 men, 11 women and 15 children.

Earlier, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips disclosed that some of those rescued were not listed on the vessel’s passenger manifest and that two crew members tested positive for narcotics.

Edghill later confirmed that one of those crew members was the captain, who tested positive for cannabis.

He said the discovery that additional, unlisted people were on board has significantly complicated the search and rescue operation, as authorities are now unable to determine the exact number of people who were on the vessel when it capsized.