The HEART Initiative update

The steering committee of the H.E.A.R.T initiative established by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali in response to a national tragedy involving the MV Barima, met today, Wednesday, July 12, with His Excellency and provided an update on the work being done since it’s establishment on July 31, 2026.

The overall work of the committee involves providing a comprehensive and fulsome support to individuals and families affected by the tragedy.

A coordinating secretariat under the leadership of Lt. Colonel Dominic Shepherd of the Guyana Defence Force has been established with oversight from Dr. Vindhya Persaud and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

The HEART initiative has been established to provide spiritual and religious support, children’s wellbeing and welfare assistance including education, developing a parent and family support network to the families and communities affected by the MV Barima tragedy. The Initiative has established Regional units to deliver sustained and long-term psychological, social and religious support. The First Lady’s Office would be complementing support to children under the initiative.

Through its structure and coordinating mechanisms, the HEART Initiative is ensuring that the psychotherapy, grief counselling, and humanitarian, financial and other support to families and individuals in the affected communities, that has been provided by Government Agencies including Ministries of Human Services and Social Security, Health, Education and other bodies including PAHO, Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers and University of Guyana from the onset of the MV Barima be sustained, strengthened and expanded to cater comprehensively for each family and survivor.

Amongst the beneficiaries of these interventions so far, are families of the deceased, crew members, and their families, survivors and all of the children affected by the tragedy.

In keeping with its mandate, the HEART initiative committee will be continually visiting all the affected families and communities in the days and weeks ahead. There will continue to be collaboration with the wider Guyanese community, the private sector, religious bodies, humanitarian bodies and International Agencies.