Captain Gerry Gouveia, Managing Director of Roraima Airways, has revealed how one of the company’s aircraft played a pivotal role in the early hours of Sunday’s search for survivors after the MV Barima capsized off Guyana’s northwest coast.
According to Gouveia, the Roraima Airways search aircraft located three SOS distress flares and detected an emergency beacon signal while conducting an overnight aerial search. The information was immediately passed to the national Search and Rescue Coordination authorities, allowing rescue teams to move quickly to the location.
The airline launched its mission after the ferry was reported in distress during its voyage from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
At 1:36 a.m., Roraima’s BN-2B Islander aircraft (8R-GRC), piloted by Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr. and Captain Learie Barclay, departed the Eugene F. Correia International Airport. The aircraft arrived over the search area about 20 minutes later.
“During the search, the crew observed three SOS distress flares and detected an emergency beacon signal in the same vicinity,” Gouveia said.
The aircraft remained overhead while relaying the coordinates to the Guyana Defence Force and other rescue teams before returning safely to Ogle at 2:41 a.m.
In a separate social media post, Gouveia described the urgency of the operation.
“In the early morning hours, waking up to a phone call from your Dad saying there are hundreds missing at sea is a surreal experience. Of course the answer is let’s go get them.”
He recalled that about 45 minutes into the search, one of the crew members spotted a distress flare.
“We heard the spotter say, ‘Flare port side.’ We stayed overhead on station, relayed the coordinates to the GDF team and waited for them to get to the area. The rescue is underway.”
Gouveia praised the pilots, ground crew and support staff of Roraima Airways for responding immediately to the emergency call. He also commended the Guyana Defence Force Air Corps, the Guyana Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration Department, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, emergency responders and civilian volunteers involved in the rescue effort.
“Search and rescue operations are among the finest examples of national teamwork. In moments of crisis, institutional boundaries disappear, and the shared objective is simple: to save lives,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Government said the search and rescue operation remains in full swing.
According to the Ministry of Public Works, the MV Barima departed Georgetown at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday for Port Kaituma. A distress signal was received by Timehri Air Traffic Control at about 11:01 p.m., prompting an immediate emergency response involving both state agencies and private-sector partners.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill said the vessel was equipped with more than 200 life jackets and other emergency safety equipment.
The latest official update indicates that 53 people have been rescued, while search teams continue to scour the area by air and sea for the remaining passengers and crew.
The Office of the Prime Minister said every available resource has been deployed and that Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who is performing the functions of the President, has been receiving regular updates on the operation.
The cause of the vessel’s capsizing has not yet been announced. Rescue operations were continuing Sunday as authorities worked to account for everyone aboard the ill-fated ferry.
