Families of victims of the MV Barima disaster are intensifying their campaign for the sunken ferry to be salvaged, maintaining weekly protests outside the Office of the President as they demand answers about the recovery of their missing relatives.
The families staged another protest this week, with relatives of missing brothers Bryan and Kyle Thomas joining relatives of Neil and Kenrick Cort in calling for the vessel to be recovered without further delay.
The July 18 sinking, which has been described as Guyana’s worst maritime disaster, claimed 73 confirmed lives, while approximately 30 people remain unaccounted for, according to Kaieteur News.
The grieving families are demanding the immediate resignation of Minister within the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, who has responsibility for the recovery process, as well as Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill.
A central concern for the families is the continued presence of the wreck on the seabed.
They believe the vessel may contain the remains of their loved ones as well as evidence that could help establish how the disaster occurred.
The protests come even as the Government has established a Commission of Inquiry into the disaster.
According to the Department of Public Information, the five-member Commission was established to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the capsizing and sinking, the loss of life and the response to the disaster. It is also expected to examine the immediate and underlying causes, compliance with maritime safety requirements and possible failures or shortcomings.
However, the families say the investigation cannot provide them with closure while the wreck and potentially missing victims remain underwater.
The Maritime Administration Department, which falls under Indar’s responsibility, previously issued an Expression of Interest seeking contractors capable of salvaging the vessel for forensic examination. But, according to Kaieteur News, recovery operations have not yet begun.
Attempts by the newspaper to obtain an update from Indar on the evaluation of the proposals and the timetable for the salvage operation were unsuccessful.
The families have therefore vowed to continue their weekly vigil until the Government provides a clear timeline for recovering the vessel and advances the Commission of Inquiry process.
The pressure comes as a separate criminal case arising from the disaster moves forward.
Three members of the MV Barima crew—Kevin Price, Rondell Dwayne Roberts and Delon Granderson—have been charged with murder. The prosecution has completed disclosure to the defence, with paper committal proceedings scheduled for November 16.
For relatives still searching for missing family members, however, the immediate issue remains recovery.
Their weekly protest has consequently become both a demand for the return of their loved ones and a call for accountability over one of the country’s deadliest maritime disasters.
