The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has joined the calls for the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, to be removed from office in wake of the deadly MV Barima ferry tragedy.

The MV Barima was on its way to the indigenous community of Port Kaituma in Region One from Georgetown on Saturday night when it sank off the coast of Essequibo.

The operation of the 87-year-old ferry amid reports of it being overloaded at the time of the tragedy and in need of major repairs, has raised a number of serious questions.

In a statement, the APA said it wants to remind the Public Works Minister, who holds responsibility for the ferry service, that for years, passengers travelling on the North-West ferries have complained of the deplorable state of the vessels, the behaviour of some crew members and the general unsafe conditions they are forced to endure in travelling between the North-West and Georgetown.

Based on those reports, the APA noted that Saturday’s tragedy may have been one waiting to happen.

The Association noted that while Guyanese of all ethnicities reside in the North-Western District of Guyana, the majority of the population is Indigenous, and all use the ferry service because it is the most cost-effective transportation service to the city, given the high costs of other means of travel.

The APA said for too long, the safety of those who depend on Guyana’s air, waterways and roads has not received the level of attention, urgency and care they deserve, adding that Minister Edghill’s report that a manifest did not match the identities of some of the rescued passengers exposes poor management and accountability in the operations of the vessels serving the North-West District.

The APA said it wants a comprehensive, independent and transparent review of the tragedy, and also calls for a similar review of Guyana’s entire river and sea transportation systems, through which people move from one place to another, as many of these systems have numerous faults and flaws.

“In the case of the MV Barima, the review must go far beyond determining the immediate cause of the sinking. It must critically examine the structural deficiencies that continue to place passengers at risk in similar circumstances, including maritime vessel safety standards, maintenance regimes, licensing and inspection procedures, crew training and certification, passenger capacity enforcement, emergency preparedness, weather monitoring, search-and-rescue capabilities, communication systems, and the adequacy of regulatory oversight”, the APA noted.

It said the review must include meaningful consultation with the indigenous and riverain communities that rely on these services every day, since those who navigate the waterways daily understand the realities, dangers and shortcomings of the current system and must have a voice in shaping the solutions.

The APA said the loss of lives aboard the MV Barima must become a turning point for significant improvements in public safety and maritime regulation, making it clear that the nation cannot afford to hear the Government of Guyana respond to a tragedy with temporary expressions of sympathy, only for another one to highlight public deficiencies.

“Every tragedy that fails to produce meaningful reform increases the likelihood of another”, the APA noted.

The APA wants the investigation into the ferry tragedy to be conducted with swiftness, complete transparency, and integrity.

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