Ten weeks after the MV Barima disaster, grieving families and supporters continue to protest outside the Office of the President, demanding answers about missing relatives and accountability for the July 18, 2026 tragedy.
The weekly Tuesday demonstrations have become a sustained campaign for the recovery of the sunken vessel and the resignations of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister within the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar.
The protesters argue that political responsibility must accompany the investigations into the disaster. They want the Government to explain the circumstances surrounding the sinking, ensure that the vessel is recovered and establish whether failures in oversight or safety contributed to the loss of life.
“Float the boat, bring them home”
Raising the MV Barima remains one of the families’ central demands. They believe the wreck may contain the remains of missing relatives and evidence that could help establish what happened.
The vessel was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it capsized. Approximately 179 people were believed to have been aboard. Seventy-six survived, 73 bodies were recovered and approximately 30 people remained unaccounted for in figures reported after the disaster.
For relatives still waiting for missing family members, recovering the vessel is essential to the search for remains and the possibility of bringing their loved ones home.
Protesters have also called for the release of the three crew members charged in connection with the disaster: Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Roberts and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson. The men remain before the courts and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Many have questioned the oversight of maritime transportation, the continued use of the ageing MV Barima and the adequacy of transportation infrastructure serving hinterland communities.
The calls for ministerial resignations have also been taken up by civil society organisations. In October, a coalition called for Edghill, Indar and three senior maritime officials to be placed on administrative leave pending the Commission of Inquiry’s findings, citing concerns about accountability and public confidence in the investigation.
These are demands for political accountability, not findings of personal wrongdoing. The Commission of Inquiry has yet to determine responsibility for the disaster.
The Government awarded BK International a G$1.034 billion contract to salvage the vessel. The recovery operation has attracted scrutiny over its timetable, technical approach and the preservation of evidence.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry is examining the cause of the sinking, the vessel’s operation, compliance with maritime safety requirements and the search and rescue response. Survivors, relatives and officials from the Transport and Harbours Department and Maritime Administration Department are expected to testify when hearings resumed on November 10.
The inquiry is expected to establish the circumstances of the disaster and make recommendations. However, families continue to insist that they need tangible progress in the recovery operation and clear communication from the authorities.
Ferguson: “The struggle continues!”
Former minister and former parliamentarian Annette Ferguson, who has stood with the families since the protest began, reaffirmed her commitment to the campaign in a social media post following Tuesday’s tenth-week demonstration.
She wrote:
“TEN WEEKS, and the struggle continues!
We will not be silenced, intimidated, or discouraged. The fight for JUSTICE will continue until the families get the answers, accountability, and closure they deserve.
The PPP/C Administration must be held accountable, and the nation must never forget what happened on that fateful night of July 18, 2026.
We shall remain steadfast. We shall continue to speak out. We shall continue to stand with the families.
JUSTICE FOR THE MV BARIMA FAMILIES!”
Ferguson’s message reflects the protesters’ determination to keep the disaster in the national spotlight and maintain pressure on the Government.
Ten weeks after the sinking, the families are still waiting for answers about their missing relatives and the circumstances that led to the disaster.
The Government’s response will be measured not only by the existence of a Commission of Inquiry or a salvage contract, but by the progress made in addressing the families’ concerns.
