Dear His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,and Honourable Members of Cabinet,
BUYDG Human Rights and Prison Reform Division Calls for an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima Fatal Tragedy
The Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) ,Human Rights and Prison Reform Division extends its deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers to the families of every person who lost their life, remains missing, or has been affected by the tragic sinking of the MV Barima. We pray that God grants them strength, comfort, hope, and peace in the midst of unimaginable grief, and that those still missing are found swiftly and returned safely.
We commend the brave men and women of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, Guyana Police Force, Maritime Administration Department, Transport and Harbours Department, healthcare workers, volunteers, fishermen, ExxonMobil, the Caribbean Regional Security System, and every individual and organisation involved in the search and rescue operation. Their dedication, professionalism, and courage deserve the profound gratitude of the entire nation.
BUYDG acknowledges the initial steps taken by the Government of Guyana in mobilising resources for search and rescue. However, given the scale of this tragedy, these efforts must be matched by a fully independent, transparent, credible, and internationally supported investigation.
- Call for a Commission of Inquiry
BUYDG calls for the immediate establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) with broad powers to compel witnesses, obtain documents, preserve evidence and make binding recommendations, consistent with the marine casualty investigation and inquiry provisions under Part XVIII of the Guyana Shipping Act (Cap. 49:01).
The Commission should include:
Independent and highly qualified Guyanese experts.
International maritime investigators.
Experts nominated from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Experienced maritime safety specialists from the United States and other internationally recognised maritime jurisdictions.
Marine engineers, naval architects, human factors experts, search and rescue specialists and legal experts in maritime law.
This tragedy must never become another investigation that ends without meaningful reform.
- Critical questions that must be answered
The Commission must determine, among other matters:
-Was the vessel seaworthy before departure, as required under Part XIII (Seaworthiness of Ships) of the Guyana Shipping Act?
-Did the vessel meet all national and international safety requirements, particularly under Part X (Safety of Life at Sea) and Part XV (Passenger Ships)?
-Had the MV Barima reportedly come close to sinking on several previous occasions, and if so, why was it allowed to remain in service?
– What exactly caused the sinking of the vessel?
– Was the vessel seaworthy and operating within its certificates at the time of departure? – What was the vessel’s certified passenger and cargo capacity?
– How many passengers and crew members were actually on board? – Was the vessel fully and properly staffed in accordance with legal requirements?
– Were all passengers properly recorded on a verified manifest, and were they required to provide proper identification?
– Why were unlisted persons reportedly aboard?
– Who authorised the vessel’s departure, and were weather conditions suitable for safe passage?
– Were proper pre-departure safety inspections conducted?
– Was all cargo properly weighed, documented, secured, and within permitted limits? Was the vessel overloaded or improperly balanced?
– When was the vessel last inspected, dry-docked, and subjected to a full maintenance and engineering assessment? Were any prior defects identified and rectified?
– Did the vessel fully meet national and international safety requirements? 3. The Captain and crew
The Commission must carefully examine:
What qualifications did the captain possess?
What qualifications and certifications did each crew member possess? Were all certificates current and valid?
Did every crew member receive mandatory maritime safety training, as required under Part VI (Manning of Ships and Certification of Seafarers) of the Guyana Shipping Act?
Were radio operator certificates held where required?
Were regular emergency drills conducted?
Were crew members properly trained to respond to emergencies? Where was the captain during the emergency?
Was the captain the last person to leave the vessel?
What actions did the captain personally take to save passengers? Were proper distress calls transmitted immediately?
Was there any delay in reporting the emergency?
Were there communication failures?
Reports that the captain and other crew members allegedly tested positive for cannabis are extremely serious and must be investigated independently through proper forensic and legal procedures. If those allegations are substantiated, every person whose unlawful conduct contributed to the loss of life must be held fully accountable under the law.
At the same time, the Commission of Inquiry must ensure that these allegations do not holisticy divert attention from the broader systemic issues that may have( also ) contributed to this tragedy. As the MV Barima is a State-operated passenger ferry, the Government bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that an effective legal and regulatory framework exists for vessel inspections, maintenance, certification, safety oversight, and operational compliance. The Commission must determine whether these responsibilities were adequately discharged and whether any failures by public authorities, operators, or other responsible persons contributed to this disaster.
- Safety equipment & passenger Safety
The Commission must verify compliance with the Safety of Life at Sea (Part X) and Passenger Ships (Part XV) provisions of the Guyana Shipping Act (Cap. 49:01):
Whether each passenger was issued a personal life jacket upon boarding the vessel, in line with normal international maritime standards and best practices (where passengers are provided a life jacket before a passage and return it upon disembarking).
The total number and condition of life jackets on board (which must be proper floating devices, wearable, and waterproof), including sufficient child-sized units.
Whether life jackets were placed under or behind each seat and/or in other readily accessible locations throughout the vessel.
Whether the life jackets were equipped with emergency blinking signal lights and whistles.
Whether passengers received clear instructions on the use of life jackets and other life-saving appliances.
The number, condition, and servicing records of life rafts and inflatable crafts.
Availability and functionality of emergency flares, beacons, satellite communication equipment, VHF radios, emergency lighting, and firefighting systems.
5.Additional questions on passenger safety
The Commission must also determine:
Were passengers required to keep their life jackets on, or readily accessible, throughout the voyage?
Were passengers informed of the location of life jackets before departure?
Did the crew conduct a mandatory safety briefing and demonstrate the proper use of life jackets before the vessel departed?
Were emergency evacuation procedures explained to passengers before sailing? Were passengers advised where to assemble in the event of an emergency?
BUYDG recommends that Guyana adopt a policy requiring that every passenger boarding a passenger vessel be provided with an approved life jacket before departure, and that no vessel be permitted to sail unless there is one properly maintained and approved life jacket for every passenger and every crew member, including appropriately sized life jackets for infants and children. The Commission should also determine whether current practices comply with SOLAS, IMO standards, and the relevant provisions of the Guyana Shipping Act (Cap. 49:01). Any deficiencies must be urgently corrected.
6.Search and rescue and national maritime reform
This tragedy demonstrates the urgent need for a comprehensive review of Guyana’s maritime sector to ensure full implementation of the Guyana Shipping Act (Cap. 49:01) and alignment with international best practice.
The investigation should also assess the timeliness and effectiveness of the search and rescue response and identify required improvements to Guyana’s maritime SAR capabilities.
- Recommendation for the establishment of a Ministry of Maritime Affairs
The MV Barima tragedy demonstrates that Guyana’s maritime sector has become too strategically important to remain without dedicated ministerial leadership.
As one of the world’s fastest-growing oil-producing nations, Guyana now has expanding offshore petroleum operations, international shipping, commercial ports, river transportation, fisheries, marine environmental responsibilities, offshore search and rescue obligations, and a growing passenger ferry network. These responsibilities are further heightened by the risks associated with offshore oil and gas activities, including the potential for oil spills, blowouts, and other environmental incidents.
BUYDG therefore calls upon the Government of Guyana to seriously consider establishing a “Ministry of Maritime Affairs (or a Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy)” headed by a Cabinet Minister.
Many maritime nations recognise the importance of dedicated ministerial leadership (e.g., Greece’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, The Bahamas, and Cyprus). Such a Ministry in Guyana should oversee maritime safety and security, vessel regulation, search and rescue, offshore oil and gas safety (including oil spill response), port development, ferry services, inspections, training, accident investigations, marine environmental protection, IMO compliance, and Blue Economy development.
BUYDG further recommends a comprehensive review of all maritime legislation and a National Maritime Safety Reform Programme with international partners (IMO, US Coast Guard, Transport Canada, UK MCA, etc.).
8.Additional recommendations include:
– Mandatory electronic passenger manifests.
– Zero tolerance for alcohol or drug impairment with random testing. – Mandatory body-worn cameras or CCTV where practicable.
– Independent annual safety audits.
– Routine emergency drills.
– Modern distress communication and voyage data recording systems. – Stronger penalties for violations.
– A permanent independent Marine Accident Investigation Bureau. – A National Passenger Compensation Fund.
– Regular public reporting on vessel safety.
9.Accountability and societal responsibility
No individual or authority should be shielded from accountability. If negligence, recklessness, or breaches of law are established, appropriate criminal, civil, and disciplinary proceedings must follow without delay. BUYDG urges the Government to ensure there is no attempt for cover-up, interference with witnesses, or political influence.
One of the reasons such tragedies continue is our collective failure, as a society, to hold those in political office and administrative authority accountable , regardless of which government is in power. We have witnessed the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire (20 children lost), the tragic deaths of siblings in the trench at Bachelor’s Adventure, and the fatal fire at a children’s home. These events must not simply fade into national memory. Our focus must remain on saving lives, supporting families, demanding accountability, and preventing recurrence.
- State responsibility, victim assistance and compensation
Every passenger and crew member aboard the State-operated MV Barima was entitled to the full protection, duty of care, and reasonable safety measures owed by the State. BUYDG therefore calls upon the Government of Guyana to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and to ensure that every affected person and family receives fair, timely, and adequate support.
BUYDG recommends that the Commission of Inquiry be specifically mandated to examine and make recommendations regarding compensation for all persons affected by this tragedy, including:
- The families of those who lost their lives, with the Commission determining fair and appropriate compensation for each loss of life based on the evidence and applicable legal principles.
- Survivors who sustained physical injuries, psychological trauma, emotional distress, or other losses arising from the incident, with the Commission recommending an appropriate compensation framework.
- The families of persons who remain missing, pending the outcome of the investigation and any applicable legal processes.
Pending the Commission’s recommendations, BUYDG respectfully calls upon the Government to implement an immediate emergency assistance programme, including:
- A full refund of all passenger fares paid for the voyage.
- Transportation, at no additional cost, to each passenger’s intended destination once it is safe and practicable to do so.
- Payment for reasonable accommodation, meals, transportation, and other necessary expenses for passengers and relatives who have been left stranded as a result of the tragedy.
- Coverage of all reasonable travel, accommodation, and related expenses for immediate family members who must travel to identify deceased or missing relatives.
- The full payment of reasonable funeral, burial, cremation (where applicable), wake, and other related expenses for those who lost their lives.
- Immediate access to medical treatment, counselling, psychological care, and other social support services for survivors and affected families.
BUYDG further recommends that the Government establish a transparent claims process to compensate passengers and other persons for cargo, personal property, commercial goods, equipment, or other valuable items lost as a result of the sinking. Claimants should be invited to submit receipts, invoices, shipping documents, photographs, or any other reasonable evidence of ownership and value.
Where goods were intended for commercial sale or business purposes, the compensation process should also take into account demonstrable financial losses resulting from the destruction of those goods. If compensation is unreasonably delayed, consideration should be given to the payment of interest or other appropriate compensation for losses caused by the delay, in accordance with the law
While no amount of money can ever replace a human life or erase the suffering caused by this tragedy, fair and timely compensation is both a legal responsibility and a moral obligation. It is essential that every victim and every affected family be treated with dignity, compassion, and justice.
- Offer of technical assistance
BUYDG reiterates its willingness to assist the Government and any Commission of Inquiry in the national interest.
Our Executive Council includes an internationally certified Master Mariner/Captain who is currently working as a captain with extensive experience operating vessels in Guyana and internationally. His professional experience and technical knowledge of maritime operations, vessel safety, navigation, emergency response and international maritime standards could be of significant value during this process.
Should the Government deem it appropriate, he is willing to provide independent technical advice to assist with the ongoing investigation, search and rescue efforts, analysis of the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the development of comprehensive recommendations aimed at reforming and modernising Guyana’s maritime sector in accordance with internationally recognised best practices.
If invited, BUYDG would also support his appointment to the Commission of Inquiry or to any technical advisory panel established to examine this tragedy and recommend reforms.
This offer is made solely in the public interest and reflects BUYDG’s commitment to ensuring that every lesson from this tragedy is identified and translated into meaningful reforms that enhance maritime safety and protect lives.
Conclusion
The people of Guyana deserve the truth.
The families deserve complete and honest answers.
The victims deserve justice.
The survivors deserve continuing care and support.
Our nation deserves a maritime transportation system that places the protection of human life above all other considerations.
This Commission of Inquiry must not merely determine how this tragedy occurred; it must identify every contributing factor, assign responsibility wherever the evidence leads, and recommend comprehensive reforms to ensure that such a catastrophe is never repeated.
BUYDG respectfully urges the Government of Guyana to act without delay by establishing a fully independent, transparent, adequately resourced, and internationally supported Commission of Inquiry with the confidence of the Guyanese people.
This tragedy must become the catalyst for lasting maritime reform so that no family is ever forced to endure such unimaginable loss again.
Your truly
Kellion Leps
Acting General President
Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG)
Secretary, Prison Reform and Human Rights Division
Bartica, Region No. 7, Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
