Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has renewed calls for the immediate resignation of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, declaring that the minister “should be in lockup” and assisting investigators instead of the ferry crew. Blaming Edghill for the MV Barima tragedy, Mohamed said the minister must be held accountable, rejected any government-led investigation, and called for an independent international probe to deliver justice for the victims and their families.

Mohamed made the remarks on Thursday while speaking to reporters from aboard one of the vessels participating in the independent search and recovery mission he established following the sinking of the 87-year-old MV Barima on July 18. The ferry capsized off Guyana’s northwest coast while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma with an estimated 179 passengers and crew aboard. To date, 73 bodies have been recovered, while 76 survivors have been verified.

Reflecting on the grim search operation, Mohamed said his team continued to recover bodies drifting along the vessel’s route and warned that the passage of time would make identification increasingly difficult.