By Egland Gomes- Fellow Guyanese at home and across the diaspora, let us send a clear message: we will not be intimidated. We demand accountability and justice. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill must be held accountable for the negligence that led to the deaths of more than 100 people aboard the MV Barima, many of them Indigenous Guyanese.
Serious questions remain about the circumstances under which the vessel was allowed to operate. Information contained in publicly available tender documents has raised concerns about whether the MV Barima should have been carrying passengers at all.
The families of the victims and affected communities deserve truth, transparency and a full, independent investigation. Many have also voiced concerns about the treatment of Indigenous communities, insisting that their voices be heard and their dignity respected. No financial assistance or promise of housing can replace the lives that were lost.
As Guyana mourns one of the darkest tragedies in its maritime history, the nation must ask whether the Government has sought the assistance of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or other internationally recognised investigative agencies. Given President Irfaan Ali’s close relationship with the United States, many believe there is no reason not to seek independent international expertise to ensure a credible investigation.
Now is the time for Guyanese to stand together in demanding accountability, justice and meaningful reforms to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
The Amerindian community, which has borne the greatest burden of this tragedy, must not be fooled by promises, announcements or gestures made in the wake of the disaster. No housing programme, financial assistance or public relations campaign can erase the loss of more than 100 lives or substitute for accountability. The first duty owed to the victims and their families is the truth. Until those responsible are held accountable and an independent investigation establishes exactly what happened, justice remains unfinished.
