(Kaieteur News) – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has raised serious questions concerning the safety of the sunken MV Barima vessel in light of tender documents dated March 2026 pointing to need for sweeping rehabilitation works.

During its weekly press briefing on Friday, APNU Member of Parliament (MP) and shadow Minister of Public Works, Saiku Andrews said government’s own tender for the docking and rehabilitation of the MV Barima, published four months before the tragedy deserves careful examination.

Andrews explained that, “The Bills of Quantities required the examination of approximately 10,000 square metres of hull plating and frames, with deteriorated sections to be renewed where necessary. It also called for the replacement of 3,000 kilograms of deteriorated longitudinal and transverse steel walls and frames, 2,000 kilograms of wasted hatch beams over the cargo hold, 30 zinc anodes, 150 metres of fire lines, 20 air vents, 180 square metres of hatch-cover tarpaulin, and ultrasonic gauging of the hull with a detailed thickness test report.”