Georgetown, July 28, 2026 — The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the government’s decision to charge three surviving crew members of the ill-fated MV Barima with murder, characterizing the move as a “racist lynching” designed to distract from official negligence.

The MV Barima, an 87-year-old vessel built in 1939, sank off the Guyana coast on July 18 en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. The tragedy has claimed at least 72 lives, with rescue and recovery operations ongoing .

On July 19, Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed that two crew members tested positive for drugs following the incident . The government has now formally charged Captain Kevin Price, 40, Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson, 33, with multiple counts of murder.