MV Barima Tragedy: 65 bodies now recovered, families identify 44 persons

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has said that 65 bodies have now been recovered following the MV Barima tragedy and families have been able to positively identify 44 of those persons.

The Prime Minister provided this update at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. He also said 23 of the identified bodies have already been released to their families.

Meanwhile, the number of rescued passengers and crew remains unchanged at 76.

The search area has also been expanded to 2,100 square kilometres. The vessel has been located and efforts are being made to reposition the vessel to a safer location where divers can access the wreck more effectively. The team aims to move the vessel into shallower waters to facilitate the recovery operation before it is eventually lifted. Guyana is receiving assistance from French divers, along with support from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, in this effort.

The MV Barima, a passenger and cargo vessel, left Port Georgetown on Saturday afternoon and was heading to Port Kaituma in Region One. Late Saturday night, tragedy struck.

This tragedy has gripped the nation, but striking revelations have raised many questions.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Sunday night 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 initially rescued were listed on the passenger manifest, meaning 32 survivors were never officially recorded as passengers before the vessel left Georgetown. Once this information came to light, the list of passengers was released to the public.

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 too.

Additionally, the vessel’s captain and an engineer have been arrested after both tested positive for narcotics. This information was released to the public soon after authorities found out. On Wednesday, authorities said the these crew members remain in custody while another person who oversaw the loading of the boat has turned himself into for questioning.

The government has said that an investigation will be launched to determine what really caused the ferry to capsize. President Dr Irfaan Ali has promised a full and thorough investigation into the entire tragedy.