(Kaieteur News) – Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul has criticised the government’s decision to put the salvage of the sunken MV Barima out to public tender, calling the administrative move a “cruel, insensitive, and entirely unacceptable delay” that risks destroying vital forensic evidence and prolonging the anguish of grieving families.

Mahipaul’s call to action follows an advertisement published by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from marine salvage contractors, with a submission deadline set for Friday, August 14, 2026.

“Any reasonable person understands what follows after that deadline: evaluation of submissions, shortlisting, contract awards, mobilisation, and issuance of a commencement order,” Mahipaul stated in a press release. “This means actual salvage operations are unlikely to begin until late August or even early September. That timeline is simply unacceptable.”