The bodies of two persons who died in MV Barima tragedy have been recovered, with dozens more still missing, while the captain, the first engineer and a sailor, who were part of the crew on board the MV Barima when it sank, and survived have been taken into police custody.

Late on Sunday night, the authorities said they have unearthed major operational breaches including discrepancies in the number of persons who were on board the vessel, with only 35 of the 67 persons rescued so far listed on the passenger manifest.

The captain, and another crew member, who was rescued, have also reportedly tested positive for having narcotics in his system.

Initially, the Government had indicated that 116 passengers along with 17 crew members were on board the vessel when it sank 7 miles offshore in the Pomeroon River in Region 2.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips has since disclosed that officials may now be unaware of the true number of persons who were onboard the vessel at the time it sank, as more than half of those rescued were not listed on the manifest.

“As rescue efforts progressed today, authorities discovered that a number of individuals who were rescued were not listed on the vessel’s official manifest. Additionally, two rescued crew members tested positive for cannabis during medical examinations conducted by the healthcare personnel. And you would agree with me that these are deeply concerning and shocking developments,” the Prime Minister said.

Amid those major operational breaches, the Government, the Prime Minister said, has ordered the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into the deadly incident.

“The examination will examine all of the facts and circumstances surrounding this tragedy including 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. Let me be absolutely clear, where negligence, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible will face the full force of the law. There will be no exemptions and no tolerance for actions that place innocent lives at risk,” the Prime Minister said.

Already, the preliminary investigation has led to the arrest of the captain, the first engineer and a sailor, while the mate or the second in command is assisting with the investigation.

Outraged and disappointed by this latest development, the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who holds responsibility for maritime administration in the country, disclosed that the three are being held at Anna Regina, while the ship mate has made his way to Georgetown to assist with the investigation.

“Under my tenure as Minister of Public Works, we have conducted random testing for alcohol as well as for drugs. This is routine because we have a zero tolerance for members of the crew drinking or smoking while at work, and for us to have positive tests from the captain, I could understand a sailor, but not a captain. This is serious, people’s lives are at risk, and those matters will be dealt with,” Edghill told reporters.

Like the Prime Minister, the Public Works Minister also admitted that the authorities do not know the true number of persons, who were on board the vessel because the names of a number of persons were not included on the official manifest.

“To be confronted with a reality that despite an official manifest was given to us, persons who were rescued were not manifested – that is a criminal action. They were not on the manifest, that’s a criminal action,” the Public Works Minister said.

Minister Edghill said the situation has “comprised the entire search and rescue operation,” as rescuers were initially looking for 133 people, and at present they do not know the real number.

The investigation will therefore take into account those operational breaches, and the hierarchy of the Transport and Harbours Department (THD) has been summoned to a meeting with the Public Works Minister and the Government by extension. 

“There is a traffic manager, that manages the Kingston goods wharf; there is a superintendent that is responsible for loading the vessel whether it is cargo or passengers, and there is an officer responsible for revenue because if you are putting on cargo you have to pay for it, and if persons are added on the boat, they have to pay. So, I have already indicated to the General Manager and the Chairman of the Advisory Board that those persons are now the subject of an investigation. What action will be taken will be determined by the outcome,” Minister Edghill said.

Search, Rescue and Recovery

Meanwhile, both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works have indicated that the Search and Rescue Operation being carried out by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard with support from other Government and Private Sector organizations remain in effect.

Families of those missing are being asked to submit their names to the authorities.

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