(Kaieteur News) – Survivors and families affected by the MV Barima tragedy will receive psychosocial support and trauma counselling for as long as it is needed, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud said Wednesday.

Speaking in an interview on GoMoseley Radio, Persaud said she assembled a team from across her ministry immediately after the incident, drawing on the Child Protection Agency, the Family Enhancement Services Section, and the Social Services area to counsel those affected. The Ministries of Health and Education are also providing support, she said.

“We have been able to bring together teams from the Child Protection Agency, the Family Enhancement Services Section, and the Social Services area. And this was quite a number of persons who were engaged initially, and that number is growing based on the obvious need. We have had social workers on the ground in Region One, Region Two, and at the command centers, including the Umana Yana,” Persaud said.