WIN Member of Parliament Dawn Hastings-Williams has expressed disappointment over what she says is the lack of adequate psychosocial and trauma support for families in Port Kaituma affected by the MV Barima tragedy, despite earlier calls for sustained assistance following the disaster.
Hastings-Williams, who has responsibility for Indigenous Affairs in Parliament for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, made the comments during a visit to Port Kaituma, where she met residents and visited the sub-regional administrative office.
She said that immediately after the tragedy, she publicly urged the government to provide long-term psychosocial and trauma support for survivors and bereaved families.
“I did ask the government for a long-term psychosocial and trauma support because they will need that after this horrific tragedy,” she said.
Hastings-Williams stressed that the impact of the disaster would not be short-lived, noting that affected families require ongoing care.
“There are many families here in Port Kaituma who either survive or lost their loved ones, and they will need that psychosocial support on a daily basis,” she said.
She said some residents told her they had been asked to wait two weeks for assistance, but argued that the timeframe had already elapsed without visible support.
“They were asked to wait two weeks. Now, I am two weeks expired. Expired already last week,” she said.
Hastings-Williams said what she observed during the visit raised questions about whether affected residents are actually receiving the physical, material, or social support that has been referenced.
She also pointed to the delegation’s visit to the sub-regional administrative office, saying officials should have been able to clearly outline what assistance had been provided.
“The AREO who is in charge should have been, you know, proudly enough to say, this is what my government is,” she said.
However, she claimed the official was not allowed to speak freely on the matter.
“He should not have been asked to shut his mouth. He should have been allowed to speak and say to me and my colleague and those who are with us, this is what we have been doing so far. This is what the government has done so far,” she said.
Hastings-Williams said the lack of a clear account reinforced her concern that affected residents are not receiving sufficient attention.
“Nothing of that sort, that tells me and you, whoever is listening, that the government has no time for the people who are suffering,” she said.
She added that she was particularly concerned about the impact on Indigenous communities in the area.
“I am very, very disappointed, especially for my Indigenous brothers and sisters,” she said.
Her remarks underscore concerns about the longer-term emotional and psychological needs of survivors and bereaved families in Port Kaituma following the MV Barima tragedy.
