Attorney-at-law Darren Wade has launched a blistering attack on the Government’s decision to charge three Transport and Harbours Department employees with murder over the MV Barima disaster, arguing that the prosecution is legally unsustainable and risks diverting attention from those who may bear greater responsibility for Guyana’s deadliest maritime tragedy.

In a strongly worded statement, Wade questioned both the legal basis for the charges and the broader implications for accountability, suggesting the prosecution may have the effect of shielding senior officials from scrutiny while focusing public outrage on the captain and crew.

The July 18 sinking of the 87-year-old state-owned MV Barima claimed at least 74 lives, with another 30 people still missing and presumed dead. The ferry, travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, reportedly had 179 people aboard, though discrepancies in the passenger manifest have raised persistent questions about the true number of passengers.