A bombshell source from Guyana’s Transport and Harbours Department (TH&D) has revealed that the ill-fated MV Barima was operating without critical safety equipment when it capsized on July 18, killing at least 73 people and leaving dozens still missing at sea. This revelation was made by the CGID organization.

According to the CGID source, the vessel had no life rafts in working condition, no functioning Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) – an emergency device used to locate ships in distress – and no operational Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The source further stated that the vessel lacked a working GPS locator, making rescue efforts nearly impossible.

“If the EPIRB was operational, rescuers would have immediately located the vessel’s position on the first day, instead of having to depend on the knowledge of a fisherman to locate that vessel,” the source said.