Guyanese authorities urge patience as officials investigate capsized ferry

The MV Barima, one of a string of state ferries which service interior jungle communities by hugging the coast before turning into interior rivers, sank in the Atlantic about seven hours after sailing from the capital, Georgetown, to Port Kaituma in the northwest near Venezuela. The vessel was 87 years old and many of those who survived the Caribbean Community nation’s worst maritime disaster on record are adamant that the vessel was overloaded and rickety.

Officials say that 76 of the 179 people aboard the vessel survived; 53 bodies have been recovered while teams are at sea trying to recover at least 40 more bodies.

As the search continues, dozens of survivors complained that the vessel was overloaded with people and cargo, including heavy duty engines, a few vehicles, large fuel containers, all-terrain vehicles, and commercial cargo belonging to passengers and merchants.

Officials, including Prime Minister Mark Philips, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, and Maritime Agency Director Stephen Thomas all say there are too many differing accounts of what had transpired in the hours before sailing to come to a definitive conclusion.

“From all reports at the wharf, the vessel load line was barely submerged,” Thomas told reporters at a late Tuesday night press conference. “The vessel has a load line. If the load line is not submerged, then the vessel is not considered overloaded.” He argued that “it is usual” that the load line differs when in fresh water compared to seawater. Based on that, he said the vessel was not overloaded.

Yet, survivor Leon Murray, who said he has made the Kaituma trip dozens of times, is adamant that the vessel might have been overloaded compared to other sailings.

“The people load, load, load the steamer. They overload the steamer. It was packed, packed, packed all downstairs.”

Like others, he said the vessel had encountered engine problems about four hours after the 3.15pm departure and “instead of turning back,” the crew had stopped for a few hours, repaired the conked-out engine and sailed on. He also complained that crew members had ignored suggestions the vessel was taking in water. “They told us this is normal. Sailors and the captain didn’t announce difficulties. They did not have any time for that.”

The Barima was last dry docked in 2024 and was due for a repeat maintenance overhaul around October. Both Prime Minister Phillips and Minister Edghill said tenders were already out and cabinet had already given a no objection pronouncement for works to proceed.

Maritime Agency Director Thomas said officials are depending on a full and comprehensive investigation into the accident, the loading of the vessel, the role of supervisory personnel, and every aspect of operations regarding the tragedy before asserting blame and reaching conclusions.

“The investigation will reveal all of that,” Thomas told the AP on Wednesday, while Prime Minister Phillips noted that “we have nothing to hide. I believe and I live for transparency. I can assure you, yes, we will have a commission of inquiry, and people will be held responsible based on the outcome, the results, and the recommendations of that commission” he stated.

“Where negligence, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible will face the full force of the law. There will be no exceptions and no tolerance for actions that place innocent lives at risk,” assured Phillips.

Asked why an 87-year-old boat had still been in service, the officials said they were waiting on completion of a special pier at Port Kaituma to accommodate a new $12.7 million vessel acquired from India in recent months to replace the Barima. Works are at an advanced stage.

All major opposition parties have called for the resignation of Works Minister Edghill but Prime Minister Phillips says that only President Irfaan Ali can determine if he remains in cabinet.