(Kaieteur News) – As criticisms continue to mount over the MV Barima tragedy, two hinterland leaders are now openly calling on Public Works Minister Juan Edghill to resign, pointing out that the tragedy has brought to the fore the failures in Guyana’s river transport system.

Kako Toshao Romario Hastings and Chairman of the Aruau Community Development Council (CDC), Chris Debideen, have both noted that accountability must extend beyond the ongoing investigations, as that leadership also carries responsibility when lives are lost.

In a fiery public statement entitled “Thoughts on the Barima Tragedy, Part 1” Toshao Hastings criticised the broad governance structures surrounding maritime transport service delivery in Region One, explicitly connecting the disaster to political appointments and resource allocation.