A prominent Guyanese diaspora organisation has joined mounting calls for an independent investigation into the sinking of the MV Barima, raising concerns over the Government’s handling of the tragedy and urging a transparent inquiry capable of restoring public confidence.

In a statement issued from Brooklyn, New York, the North America Region Inc. (NAR Inc.) said the magnitude of the July 18 disaster demands a full and independent accounting of the events that led to the loss of scores of lives, while also expressing concern over what it described as the Government’s management of information in the aftermath of the sinking.

“NAR Inc. calls on the Government of Guyana to immediately commission an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the MV Barima,” the organisation stated.