GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Prime Minister of Guyana Mark Phillips says the Government is strengthening compliance with standard operating procedures across the country's ferry service following the MV Barima tragedy.

Phillips, speaking on a radio programme on Friday, said immediate action is being taken to ensure stricter adherence to existing ticketing and passenger management procedures after it was confirmed that individuals boarded the MV Barima without being ticketed.

Phillips said a review of CCTV footage from the departure stelling established that 179 people were on board the vessel when it sank.