(Kaieteur News) – A massive search and rescue operation continues off the coast of Guyana following the capsising of the MV Barima near the Pomeroon River. While 67 passengers have been successfully pulled from the Atlantic waters, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the exact number of missing persons due to what government officials call “criminal” discrepancies in the ship’s official manifest.

At a press conference held more than 18 hours after the disaster, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, acting as head of state and commander of the armed forces, confirmed that two bodies have been recovered so far. However, with dozens still unaccounted for, the ultimate death toll remains grimly unpredictable.

The MV Barima, an “old” vessel that was last dry-docked in 2024, departed the Port of Georgetown at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026. It was bound for Port Kaituma in the Northwest District, heavily laden with 268 tons of cargo, 17 crew members, and an official manifest listing 116 passengers.