Three months after the sinking of the MV Barima, former government minister and former Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson is intensifying her demand for the recovery of the vessel and the remains of missing passengers, insisting that the families of the victims must not be left without answers, accountability and closure.
Marking three months since the tragedy on July 18, 2026, Ferguson said the continued presence of the vessel on the seabed, with the remains of loved ones still missing, was prolonging the suffering of grieving families and underscoring the urgency of the recovery effort.
In a statement issued on the three-month anniversary, she declared:
“Three months have passed, yet the vessel remains on the seabed, and the remains of our loved ones are still missing.”
Ferguson has been a consistent presence at weekly protests outside the Office of the President and other government buildings, joining calls for justice for the victims and pressing the authorities to take action to recover the sunken vessel.
She highlighted the anguish of families who continue to wait for answers while being denied the opportunity to lay their loved ones to rest with dignity.
“Behind every missing person is a family enduring unimaginable pain, unanswered questions and the anguish of not having the opportunity to lay their loved ones to rest with dignity.”
Inquiry must not overshadow recovery
While a Commission of Inquiry into the disaster is ongoing, Ferguson stressed that the proceedings must not diminish the urgency of recovering the MV Barima and the missing remains.
She stated:
“While a Commission of Inquiry is ongoing, the families still deserve answers, accountability and closure. An inquiry must not cause the urgent call to recover the vessel and the missing remains to be forgotten.”
Her statement reinforces the campaigners’ position that the inquiry, while important to establishing the circumstances surrounding the disaster, must proceed alongside tangible efforts to raise the vessel and recover the missing remains.
Ferguson insisted that every reasonable effort must be made to address the families’ demands, warning against allowing the passage of time to weaken public attention or diminish the urgency of their struggle.
“We will continue to demand that every reasonable effort be made to raise the MV Barima, recover the missing remains and provide the families with the answers they deserve.”
The MV Barima sank on July 18, 2026, leaving families grieving and searching for answers. Three months later, the recovery of the vessel and the missing remains remains central to the public campaign for justice.
Ferguson’s sustained participation in weekly demonstrations has helped keep the tragedy in the public spotlight, with protesters calling on the authorities to act and ensure that the victims and their families are not forgotten.
Protest planned outside Office of the President
The campaign will continue on Tuesday, October 20, when protesters are scheduled to assemble outside the Office of the President at 10:30 a.m.
Guyanese are being urged to attend and stand in solidarity with the affected families as they press for the recovery of the MV Barima, the missing remains and accountability for the tragedy.
Ferguson stressed that the victims and their families must remain at the centre of the national response.
“Our loved ones must not be forgotten. Their lives mattered, their families matter, and their cries for justice must be heard.”
She concluded with a defiant message underscoring the campaign’s determination to continue until the families’ demands are addressed:
“NO GIVING UP! NO GIVING IN!
FLOAT THE BOAT! RAISE THE MV BARIMA!”
As the three-month anniversary passes, Ferguson’s message is that the tragedy must remain a national priority and that the families’ demands for answers, dignity and justice must not be allowed to fade from public attention.
