No overnight rescues as hopes fade in MV Barima tragedy

No additional survivors were rescued overnight following the capsizing of the MV Barima as hopes of finding more people alive continue to fade and authorities say they no longer know exactly how many people were on board the vessel.

The passenger and cargo ferry capsized about seven miles offshore near the mouth of the Pomeroon River on Saturday night while travelling from Georgetown to the North West District.

The number of rescued remains at 67, while two people have been confirmed dead. Search and rescue operations continued overnight, with the Guyana Defence Force, Coast Guard, private vessels and local fisherfolk continuing to scour the area. Guyana has also received offers of assistance from regional and international partners.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said rescue teams have been working continuously since the distress signal was received shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday.

“Every available resource continues to be deployed, and we will spare no effort until every possible avenue has been exhausted,” the Prime Minister said.

However, the search has become significantly more complicated after authorities discovered major discrepancies in the vessel’s passenger manifest.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said officials initially believed they were searching for 116 passengers and 17 crew members, based on the official manifest.

But investigations revealed that only 35 of the 67 rescued were listed on the passenger manifest, meaning 32 survivors were never officially recorded as passengers before the vessel left Georgetown.

The vessel’s cargo manifest showed it was carrying 268 tonnes of cargo, below its licensed capacity of 284 tonnes. But now that is also under question.
The discovery means authorities no longer know how many people were actually aboard the ferry when it capsized.

“I am outraged,” Edghill told a late-night press conference.

“We are talking about operational breaches; people will be dealt with.”

Prime Minister Phillips described the findings as “deeply concerning and shocking developments” and announced an urgent investigation involving the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and maritime experts.

He said investigators will examine “the accuracy of the passenger manifest, the loading of passengers and cargo, compliance with maritime safety regulations, and the conduct of the captain and crew before and during the voyage.”

The Prime Minister also warned that “where negligence, misconduct, or criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible will face the full force of the law. There will be no exceptions and no tolerance for actions that placed innocent lives at risk.”

The vessel’s captain and first engineer have been arrested after both tested positive for narcotics.

Emergency Family Assistance Centres remain operational in Georgetown, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, where relatives continue to receive updates, counselling and other support.

As the operation entered its second full day with no overnight rescues, the chances of finding additional survivors are diminishing but authorities are pressing on, insisting that the search will continue until every lead has been exhausted.