Bombshell: 32 Rescued Passengers Were NOT on Official Manifest, Captain Allegedly Tested Positive for Alcohol

New disclosures from the government’s latest briefing have raised even more troubling questions about the MV Barima tragedy.Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill revealed that only 35 of the 67 rescued passengers were listed on the official manifest, meaning 32 rescued persons were not recorded on the passenger list at all. Note_20260719_2106_otter.ai.txt

Based on figures released during the briefing:

* 100 passengers booked online
* 16 passengers booked through MMG
* 17 crew members
* 32 rescued passengers not on the manifest

These numbers indicate that at least 165 people were aboard the vessel, significantly more than the 133 persons reflected by the official manifest. Note_20260719_2106_otter.ai.txt

The Minister also disclosed that the captain allegedly tested positive for alcohol, along with other crew members. He said there is a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol or drugs while on duty, describing the matter as extremely serious because passengers’ lives were placed at risk. The captain, first engineer and a sailor reportedly tested positive, while the mate’s test reportedly did not produce the same result. Note_20260719_2106_otter.ai.txt

Adding to the uncertainty over the true number of people aboard, Minister Edghill appealed directly to the public, asking anyone who knows of a relative or friend who was on the MV Barima to contact the government’s emergency hotline so authorities can determine who remains unaccounted for.

Emergency Hotline: 702-8580 Note_20260719_2106_otter.ai.txt

The revelations raise urgent questions:

* How did 32 passengers board a government ferry without appearing on the official manifest?
* How many additional passengers who remain missing were also never officially recorded?
* Can authorities accurately determine how many people are still unaccounted for?
* Were ticketing and boarding procedures deliberately bypassed?
* How was a captain allegedly operating a passenger vessel after consuming alcohol?

Minister Edghill described the manifest discrepancies as “mischief” and announced that the traffic manager, superintendent and revenue officer responsible for boarding operations are now under investigation. Note_20260719_2106_otter.ai.txt

As search and rescue operations continue, the government’s own disclosures have raised profound concerns about passenger accountability, safety procedures, and whether the full scale of the tragedy is yet known.