(Kaieteur News) – As the National Assembly convened on Monday to approve nearly $55 billion to advance the government’s development projects and programmes, the joint opposition staged a protest, insisting that it should not be business as usual following Guyana’s deadliest maritime disaster.

The MV Barima capsised just over a week ago while en route to Port Kaituma, Region One, leaving 73 people confirmed dead and at least 30 people missing at sea.

Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) called for the resignations of Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar over the July 18 MV Barima tragedy. The joint opposition’s protest began outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) ahead of the parliamentary sitting.