Magistrate Court to move ahead with MV Barima murder charges against Captain and two others

The Court will proceed with the criminal proceedings against the three men charged with 72 counts of murder in relation to the deadly MV Barima tragedy, following a decision by Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir that the case against the men is not an abuse of process.

Defence Attorney, Dexter Todd, who along with a team of lawyers is representing the 40-year-old boat captain Kevin Price, and the 33-year-old Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson, had filed an application, asking the Court to stay the criminal proceedings on the ground that it is an abuse of the law.

But in the Suddie Magistrates’ Court this morning, Magistrate Mohabir ruled that the case does not represent an abuse of process.

“It is not an abuse of the process to have these proceedings conducted in this court and for this court to decide whether, as statutes allow me to do, whether there is sufficient evidence or whether there is a lack of evidence, in which case I would have to discharge the accused persons,” Magistrate Mohabir ruled.

The ruling paves the way for the Court to move ahead with the paper committal proceedings. Those proceedings, according to Magistrate Mohabir will commence on November 16.

Price, Granderson, and the 42-year-old chief mate, Rondell Dwayne were charged with murder after the MV Barima ferry sank off the Essequibo Coast on July 18, 2026, killing more than 73 persons. Today, they appeared virtually.

Todd had argued that the men have not been given protection of the law in his quest to have the criminal proceedings halted as there was no probe under the Shipping Act.

It was argued that the Shipping Act provides for a maritime related investigation to be conducted into the circumstances under which the ship sank. Reference was also made to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI), which is also provided for under the laws.

Todd submitted that the Shipping Act provides for breaches, and that legislation should not be replaced by the Criminal Law.

But the State Prosecutor, Mandel Moore argued that nothing in the Shipping Act bars the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from instituting criminal charges, and in this case, charges for murder, against the accused, and for paper committal to be done.

He submitted that the powers of the DPP are derived from the Constitution. Further it was submitted that the Court is a creature of statutes and the Court is bound to adhere to the Paper Committal Act, under which the proceedings against the three men were brought.

The case will continue on November 16.

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