President Dr Irfaan Ali has met with the Steering Committee of the Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust (HEART) Initiative to review ongoing support for survivors and families affected by the MV Barima tragedy. The meeting held on Wednesday focused on the support mechanisms implemented since the initiative was established in July 2026 and ways to strengthen assistance to those affected. The HEART Initiative was launched by President Ali as a national framework to provide sustained psychosocial support, humanitarian assistance and recovery resources to survivors, families and communities impacted by the tragedy. According to the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, a coordinating secretariat has been established under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Shepherd of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), with oversight from Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud and the Ministry. The initiative brings together religious and civil society leaders from various faiths and is intended to provide a range of support, including spiritual and religious assistance, children’s wellbeing and welfare services, education support and the development of parent and family support networks. Regional units have also been established to provide sustained psychological, social and religious support to affected families and communities. The Office of the First Lady will complement support being provided to children through the initiative. The Ministry said the HEART Initiative will build on assistance already being provided by Government agencies and other organisations, including the Ministries of Human Services and Social Security, Health and Education, as well as the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers and the University of Guyana (UG). That assistance includes psychotherapy, grief counselling, humanitarian support, financial assistance and other interventions for individuals and families affected by the tragedy. Beneficiaries so far include families of those who died, crew members and their families, survivors and children affected by the incident. Following Wednesday’s meeting, President Ali said the committee had updated him on the support provided to date and that discussions were held on further strengthening the care available to survivors and affected families.

The committee is expected to continue visiting affected families and communities in the coming weeks, while working with the wider Guyanese community, private sector, religious organisations, humanitarian groups and international agencies.

The initiative is intended to provide continued support as affected families and survivors deal with the aftermath of the MV Barima tragedy.