Former Minister of Public Infrastructure under the APNU+AFC Government, David Patterson, wants the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and the Director General of the Maritime Administration Department to “come clean” on the true load and passenger capacity of the MV Barima ferry, which sunk off the Essequibo Coast on Saturday night.

At a Tuesday press conference, the Director General of MARAD, Stephen Thomas, stated that the MV Barima was operating within its certified weight limit at the time of tragedy. He has insisted that it was not overloaded.

He noted that the vessel was operating below its 394-passenger capacity. 

But during a joint opposition press conference today, Mr. Patterson said that the vessel had a capacity for 150 persons and not over 300.

He said that the explanation that “less passengers and more cargo or more passengers and less cargo” can balance out the weight of the vessel is flawed.

“They are now trying to say that if there is no cargo, over 300 passengers can be on the vessel, but it is actually certified for 150 and that is how you certify the weight you calculate the finite number of passengers you are certified for plus your load and that’s the limit,” Patterson noted

Mr. Patterson is now challenging the authorities to say what was MARAD’s computation of the passengers that should have been on the vessel, since it was also claimed that over 200 metric tonnes of cargo were on the vessel.

“So how many passengers has he calculated based on his sliding scale that the vessel safely accommodate and ask him who makes that calculation, because you cannot put that on the captain, he is not a Mathematician or is the person who decide that, MARAD is supposed to do that that is why we set a definitive level  but they are trying to be clever and trying to deceive the people,” Mr. Pattersons said.

Mr. Patterson said the continued justification by authorities that the vessel was not overloaded is not adding up.

Meanwhile, the former Minister stated that a number of factors could have contributed to the tragedy, including the seaworthiness of the vessel.

He said for a vessel this age, maintenance is a matter of public safety and should not be toyed with as was the case.

He recalled that since in the early 1990’s the vessel has be serviced by experienced contractors because several structural components had to specially fabricated overseas.  However, He said after the change in government in 2020, the government had changed the decades old contractor who were maintaining the vessel and replace it with an inexrpience contractor who might have cut out the vital link for some works on the vessel to be carried out overseas.

He recalled that the MV Barima was docked in November 2015 and underwent a comprehensive evaluation, including new engine, shaft, and upgrade and passenger area among things.

He said the administration then, was fully aware that the remaining lifespan of the vessel was limited and changes were needed.

Patterson is now calling for a review of all vessels plying various routes.

“We are asking and demanding that every passenger vessel in the country’s fleet must be inspected to confirm its seaworthiness and suitability for the routes in which they are being used. We are also calling for the immediate modernization of docking facilities, the introduction of a secure and efficient ticketing system and the urgent credible programme to replace aging vessels with a modern ferry fleet supported by upgraded terminals,” Patterson said.

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