More families of the missing MV Barima victims joined the protest action this week as they renew their calls for the sunken vessel to be salvaged before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the tragedy commences its work.

The protest took place in front of the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation on Main Street a short distance away from State House.

Relatives and friends of MV Barima victims, Rawle Frank, Antoine Harcourt, Annalisa Murray, Odessa Murray and Justin Murray joined other grieving family members in the protest action.

Thirty-three-year-old Rawle Frank, a father of one, was among the crew members on the vessel on that ill-fated day. His remains are still missing along with the bodies of more than 30 others.

His father, Royston Frank told reporters that the family needs closure.  

“It is over 10 weeks now since this tragedy tek place. We are going into three months. The boat cannot raise. Why the boat cannot raise? Why is it that the boat cannot raise for our family who standing here today for our loved ones. But I always say, who feels it knows it. And if it was any family within the Government sector was on that vessel, it would have done raise,” Frank said.

It is now 21 days since the Tender Boaed opened the bids submitted by three companies for the salvaging of the vessel, and there is still no indication that a selection has been made.

Frank said the actions of the Government are unacceptable.

“This is heart rendering. This is showing you clearly like the Government don’t have no love for the lower-class people and we are seeing it because all of the people that went on that boat is poor people. Is nah no rich people family, is poor or lower-class people, lower class people and because of that the Government is trying to take advantage over us but there is a God who created all of us,” Frank said.

Noting that the situation now requires the intervention of the United Nations (UN), Frank said the rights of Guyanese must not be trampled upon.

Meanwhile, Ashana McKenzie  who is the sister of 22-year-old Antoine Harcourt who died in the tragedy said her brother was also on duty when the ferry sank.

She said the ferry should have been salvaged before the start of the Commission of Inquiry.

“Why would we have a COI and you don’t have the boat. What exactly are they investigating. All the evidence is there,” McKenzie said.

Harcourt’s remains were never recovered..

“When you speak out, they are ready to victimize you and they are ready to say oh the family this and the family that but they don’t know, it is so hard. It is hard for me as I stand here. They say time heals everything but time can’t heal this. I am telling you time can’t heal this. And the president saying he is having sleepless nights, he will continue having sleepless nights until the boat come up,” McKenzie said as she broke down in tears.

Still in disbelief, Harcourt’s mother said she needs closure.

“I think the president is not doing enough to float this boat. I think we need closure, as a family we need closure for my son because for me right now, in my head, I still feel sometimes that my son is somewhere, he is not dead. So, I think the president should work and bring that vessel up even if it is his bones, we need it,” the woman said.

The grandmother of the three Murray relatives who died in the tragedy broke down in tears as she cried out for justice. A number of other relatives also formed part of the protest action.

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