MV Barima Tragedy: Fishermen race into darkness to save drifting survivors

When news broke just after midnight that the MV Barima had capsized off Guyana’s coast, veteran Essequibo fisherman Haresh Singh did not hesitate.

A call from Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Madanlall Ramraj and Region Two Chairman Devin Mohan was all it took. Within minutes, Singh had rallied fellow fishermen, including his brother Deonarine. In their desperate rush to reach the disaster scene, they hacked through the ropes securing their boats, unwilling to waste even a few precious seconds untying them.

They sped into rough seas and near-total darkness, heading towards the area where the passenger vessel was believed to have gone down.

Along the way, they encountered a Guyana Coast Guard vessel. Knowing the waters off Hackney far better than anyone, the fishermen directed the Coast Guard towards the search area and agreed that the military vessel would signal them once it arrived. As promised, the signal came, and the fishermen raced to the location.

There, a flashing locator light pierced the darkness.

It led them to a life raft surrounded by survivors who had spent hours drifting helplessly in the open sea.

The fishermen pulled 11 people aboard, including children, many of them exhausted, dehydrated and traumatised after surviving one of Guyana’s worst maritime disasters.

But the rescue quickly became a race against time.

Three of the rescued children lost consciousness and needed urgent medical attention. With lives hanging in the balance, the fishermen made the agonising decision to abandon their search and race back to shore.

They remain convinced that more survivors may have been nearby, but saving those already in their care had to take priority.

The ordeal left the seasoned fishermen deeply shaken. Listening to parents recount how they had become separated from their children and loved ones strengthened their resolve to continue searching despite the emotional toll.

“I am sure if I had a chance to continue I would have found others,” said Deonarine.

As the operation continues, the fishermen returned to sea Monday morning – not only to assist rescue teams but also to help locate the sunken vessel, hoping to provide answers and some measure of closure to families still waiting for news.