GEORGETOWN, Guyana – APNU Chief Whip Dr. Terrence Campbell is calling for the National Assembly to suspend its normal legislative agenda and devote its next sitting entirely to the MV Barima disaster, describing it as Guyana’s most significant national tragedy since independence.
Speaking during an interview with journalist Gordon Moseley, Campbell argued that no bill or parliamentary matter is more important than examining the causes of the sinking, the government’s response, and reforms needed to prevent another disaster.
“This is the biggest disaster in Guyana since independence in 1966,” Campbell said. “Nothing before the National Assembly rises to the level of importance of discussing this tragedy.”
Campbell, who travelled to the search area, said he was disappointed by what he observed, claiming the recovery effort appeared to rely heavily on private operators rather than a large-scale deployment of state resources. He also expressed concern that some victims may never be identified because of the condition of bodies recovered.
The opposition parliamentarian questioned why newer vessels were not operating the North West route, why recently acquired military assets were not more visibly deployed, and why private aircraft played such a prominent role in locating the disaster scene.
“We’ve spent money buying vessels, and we need to know why those vessels were not in use,” he said.
Campbell also criticized what he described as a lack of transparency and engagement with the parliamentary opposition during the crisis, arguing that Guyana cannot learn from the tragedy without a full and open accounting of what happened.
He urged Parliament to play a central role in determining the scope and composition of any Commission of Inquiry and called for accountability at both the operational and political levels, including adherence to the Westminster principle of ministerial responsibility.
Campbell disclosed that APNU parliamentarians have already developed a plan of action that will be presented to other opposition parties in an effort to build a unified national response.
Concluding the interview, Campbell expressed condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and pledged that the opposition would continue pressing for accountability and reforms to ensure that a tragedy of this magnitude is never repeated.
