Former Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and APNU councillor Lelon Saul has accused the Government of failing in its responsibility to ensure the safety of passengers aboard the ill-fated MV Barima, while calling for the vessel to be salvaged to facilitate a full and transparent investigation.
Speaking during a public demonstration, Saul argued that the ferry should never have been permitted to sail because it allegedly failed to meet minimum safety standards required under international maritime conventions.
“For some reason, the minister believes that he is not accountable to the nation, and we must demand accountability,” Saul declared. He contended that a proper review of the vessel’s condition would reveal that it “was not equipped to sail with passengers,” yet was nevertheless allowed to depart, resulting in what he described as the loss of more than 100 lives.
Saul also expressed concern over reports that the Government is considering leaving the wreck on the seabed as a memorial site. He said such a move would be unacceptable, particularly for families whose loved ones remain trapped inside the vessel.
“Unfortunately, I have a relative who is entombed in that boat, and I would like to see his remains so we can have closure,” he said, adding that many other grieving families deserve the same opportunity. Accountability Demand Speech_otter.ai.txt
Questioning the rationale for leaving the vessel submerged, Saul suggested that the decision could hinder efforts to establish exactly what caused the disaster.
“We must not allow that to happen. There must be something that they want to conceal,” he said, while urging authorities to recover the vessel so investigators can conduct a comprehensive examination.
Saul called for what he described as a proper investigation into the tragedy, arguing that the response should not be dismissive of the concerns of victims’ families. He also urged Guyanese to demand greater accountability from the Government over the circumstances that led to one of the country’s worst maritime disasters.
