The Government has expanded its unprecedented criminal prosecution arising from the MV Barima disaster, charging three more Transport and Harbours Department (THD) employees with murder even as fundamental questions remain unanswered about the condition of the state-owned vessel, the Government’s oversight of its ferry fleet and the decisions that allowed the aging ship to continue carrying passengers.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Guyana Police Force announced that, acting on legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), it had charged Captain Kevin Price, 40, of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara; Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, of Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara; and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson, 33, of Fellowship, West Coast Demerara, with the common law offence of murder.

The three men appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the indictable charge was read to them. They were not required to plead and were remanded to prison. The matter has been transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court and adjourned until August 3.