APNU writes Speaker seeking debate and discussion on Terms of Reference for inquiry into MV Barima tragedy

With the National Assembly set to meet on Monday, the APNU Member of Parliament, Dr Terrence Campbell, has written to the Speaker requesting that there be an urgent debate on the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly MV Barima tragedy that has claimed the lives of more than 70 persons, with dozens more still missing.

The APNU has submitted a motion on the issue.

Describing the tragic incident as the worst maritime disaster in Guyana’s history, MP Campbell told the Speaker that the sinking of the MV Barima off the Essequibo Coast is an urgent matter of public importance.

He said there is an immediate need to establish a fully independent Commission of Inquiry with clear Terms of Reference to investigate the circumstances, causes and consequences of the incident.

At a press conference today, the APNU Parliamentary Lead said the Speaker should have no issue granting approval for the debate to take place given magnitude and severity of the issue.

“The President has the final authority in terms of setting up Commissions of Inquiry but we believe that in this particular instance, this is a devastating tragedy. I have said before that this is the worst maritime tragedy in Guyana’s recent history, and to my mind the worst tragedy in Guyana’s recent history bearing in mind that Jones Town did not involve many Guyanese. So, we are hoping that in the National Assembly that this motion would be permitted by the Speaker. I can find no grounds on which, he should reject it. I thing every Guyanese understands the magnitude of what is taking place here, failures at many levels, operational level, policy level, search and rescue level, search and recovery level, and so, we expect that the Speaker would allow this motion move to the floor,” MP Campbell said.

In his correspondence, MP Campbell said the incident resulted in significant loss of life and substantial property damage causing acute public concern and distress to victims’ families and wider communities.

He said too that there were pressing questions regarding the vessel’s seaworthiness, regulatory compliance, oversight by maritime authorities, search-and-rescue, the availability of other vessels and measures to prevent recurrence.

Campbell noted that while an inquiry is not the way to arrive at the truth, it is possibly the fastest way of getting to the bottom of the issue.

“But one of the things that, one of the aims is to have it time definite – set a specific time for the commission to do its work…The Commission of Inquiry might be the fastest way for us to get to the truth of what happened but it is not necessarily the only way for us to get to the truth. And remember, it is not only about us getting to the truth but we want to have corrective action, and we want to have interim action, so that there is never a reoccurrence of this sort here in Guyana,” MP Campbell told reporters.

MP Campbell said an “immediate, transparent parliamentary discussion” on the Terms of Reference will assist in ensuing public confidence, facilitate timely establishment of an independent commission and allow the Assembly to give direction on scope, independence and resources.

The coalition has also submitted eight Terms of Reference for the House’s consideration, with the primary aim of establishing the facts surrounding the incident, including timeline, passenger and manifest records, cargo, weather and navigation conditions, in addition to other contributing factors.

MP Saiku Andrews, while offering condolences to the families of those who died and saluting the efforts of the search and recovery teams, said the incident signals major lapses within the maritime administration in the country, and must be interrogated.

“Only a fraction of the persons initially rescued appeared on the official passenger manifest. Subsequent official accounts placed the number of persons aboard substantially above the original manifest total. These discrepancies compromised the search operation, intensified the anguish of families and exposed a collapse of the most basic systems governing passenger registration, cargo control and maritime safety,” he said.

The APNU MP said while the Government has also suspended the management team responsible for the loading, dispatch and overall operation of the vessel, both the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, and and the Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, must also be held accountable.

MP Andrews said the Government must not “scapegoat” junior workers while shielding the ministers who exercised political and administrative authority over the system.

“Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill attempted, before an independent investigation had established the facts, to dismiss concerns about overloading and mechanical failure and attribute the disaster to tidal conditions or a “big wave.” Yet the subsequent discovery of numerous passengers who were not recorded on the manifest directly contradicted the Government’s initial assurances that the vessel was not overloaded. Minister Edghill’s Ministry, through the Transport and Harbours Department, operated and maintained the MV Barima,” he said.

According to the MP, the historical record shows that MV Barima had previously experienced mechanical difficulties and an engine-room fire, requiring repairs and external engineering assessments.

Reports also indicate that substantial emergency repairs were undertaken in recent years. He said those issues make the vessel’s complete maintenance, inspection and seaworthiness records central to any credible investigation.

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