Many of the survivors of the MV Barima ferry tragedy are at the Charity hospital in Region 2 being grateful for life and prayerful for those who are still to be found.
The Government has reported that there were 133 persons on board the ferry, including 17 crew members, when tragedy struck. A total of 67 people have since been rescued, with more than 60 others still missing.
At the Charity Hospital, many of the survivors spoke with reporters and recounted the harrowing ordeal.
One man explained that he was in a hammock resting on the ferry during its journey from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, when he heard a loud noise and saw water rushing in as the ferry tilted and started to sink. He said it was chaotic as he and others held on to anything that was floating to survive.
Another survivor, Devon Gaskin, in an interview with news outlet, News Room, recalled being forced to plunge out of the sinking boat as the rough waters rushed in. He said he was forced to hold on to a floating large gas bottle to survive. The man said while the tragedy took place before midnight on Saturday, the first sight of a rescue team was just after 5 o’ clock on Sunday morning.
He said he was fearful of losing his life.
At a joint press conference this morning, Prime Minister Mark Phillips told reporters that the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony is leading a national health response.
According to him, those who have survived the incident, and have been rescued thus far, are being taken to a facility in Charity for medical attention.
“Persons who were rescued, they were taken to a medical facility at Charity, and they are under the care of our medical doctors, and that operation has been led by Dr. Frank Anthony,” the Prime Minister said.
He said once those survivors receive the necessary care, then the Government would be in a position to release names.
However, both the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill said at this stage, the Government is not in a position to release any names.
In the interim, three Emergency Family Assistance Centers have been set up to provide families affect by the MV Barima Vessel Incident with information. Two of those centers are set up in Region One, one at the Port Kaituma Community Center and another at the NAREI Extension Center in Kumaka.
“We have two centers that were established in Region One, and through those centers, we will be in touch with the relatives, right, the family members of the people who were on board the vessel. So we are not releasing any names at present. We are focused on rescuing people who were on board the boat,” the Prime Minister said.
In Region Four, the third center has been established at the Umana Yana. Minister Edghill said personnel from the Transport and Habour Department would be on ground to provide concerned family members with necessary information.
“This has become, Umana Yana, the center where we will be communicating and engaging with family members in Georgetown, and similarly, this boat was bound for Port Kaituma and a similar center has been established in Port Kaituma. So there will be no drought of information. The Transport and Harbor’s personnel with the manifest would be able to interface with family members that are seeking information, and I dare say that that information will become available as soon as it could be verified,” the Public Works Minister said.
Minister Edghill said it was important to provide only verified information.
“I did ask the coordinating center: Is there anything else that can be done or should be done to ensure that this search and rescue is effective. And after we have gone through and brainstormed everything, we have we are satisfied that everything that could be done, should be done, and was able to be done was done. Government has been able to do what was necessary, so we want to assure the public that everything that can be done should be done, or should have been done was done, and we are continuing that at this time,” the Public Works Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Captain Stephen Thomas disclosed that the Guyana Defence Coast Guard is spearheading the Search and Rescue Operation, and is serving as the on-scene commander, while MARAD is manning the centers, providing critical information.
In total, the Coast Guard has deployed three vessels, MAARD, another three, and the Guyana Police Force, two vessels. The Guyana Defence Force has also deployed a helicopter, and together they are being support by the Private Sector which has also provided both air and water assets to assist with the search and rescue operation.
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