Defence Challenges Murder Case After MV Barima Sinking

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the July 18 MV Barima capsizing has paused oral hearings for two weeks and will resume on November 10. During the break, its Secretariat will gather more evidence and visit survivors in their communities to take statements, while commissioners continue reviewing testimony from 33 witnesses on the ferry disaster and rescue response.

Communication failures hampered MARAD’s response to the sinking of the MV Barima, with emergency coordinator Capt. John Flores telling the Commission of Inquiry that weak systems made it hard to give clear instructions. He said government plans to add rescue coordination centres along Guyana’s coast could raise communication coverage to about 90%, though false distress alerts also slowed verification. The inquiry continues as officials examine the response to the disaster, which left 73 dead and 30 missing.

Testimony at the Commission of Inquiry showed repeated unanswered distress calls from the MV Barima, raising questions about how quickly emergency alerts were relayed and acted on during the July 18 ferry disaster. A witness also said Public Works Minister Juan Edghill urged rescuers not to release photos, while search teams later found empty life rafts and rescued survivors in poor condition.

A coalition of Guyanese civil society groups wants Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar and three senior maritime officials placed on administrative leave while the Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima sinking continues. They are also pressing for a more transparent, public process, including real-time livestreaming, witness protections and full release of the final report.

APNU is urging the MV Barima Commission of Inquiry to call Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and junior minister Deodat Indar to testify about safety oversight, maritime regulation and emergency preparedness before the July 18 sinking that killed passengers. The party cited reported gaps in drills, maintenance, communications and rescue readiness, saying the inquiry must examine whether government failures contributed to the tragedy.

A coalition of Guyanese civil society groups is challenging the government’s $1.034 billion award to BK International to salvage the sunken MV Barima, saying the bidders lacked the required marine salvage experience and may damage evidence needed to explain the July 18 sinking. They want a specialist forensic salvage firm and an independent marine safety investigation.

Testimony at the MV Barima Commission of Inquiry revealed major gaps in Guyana’s maritime emergency response, including MARAD having only two operational vessels and relying on private contractor WestSyde Marine for rescue support. Witnesses also described delayed alerts, informal record-keeping, weak standard procedures and shortages of supplies during the search for survivors. These failures are now central to the probe into the sinking.

A coalition of civil society groups is urging the Government to replace BK International with a specialist marine salvage firm to recover the sunken MV Barima, saying the wreck must be raised in a way that preserves evidence for investigators. They also want an independent marine safety probe and stronger transparency around the Commission of Inquiry.

At the MV Barima inquiry, MARAD lighthouse attendant David Chisholm said repeated attempts to contact the vessel around midnight after a distress alert got no response. A pilot trainee also testified that survivors and bodies were transferred during the rescue, while officials including Minister Juan Edghill and Health Minister Frank Anthony were present. The capsizing has left 73 dead and 30 missing.

A MARAD surveyor testified at the MV Barima inquiry that he did not know who in Guyana vessel owners are supposed to register emergency beacons with, even though the beacon’s manufacturer urged registration. The gap matters because the Barima’s EPIRB was never registered locally, slowing efforts to identify the vessel after its July 18 sinking off the Essequibo Coast and hampering the initial response.

The Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima capsizing heard that the vessel’s chief engineer lacked formal certification, safety drills were not done, and maintenance was ad hoc, raising concerns about maritime oversight. Testimony also showed early search efforts were limited by dark coastal airstrips and that rescue figures were logged from media reports, exposing gaps in emergency coordination and record-keeping.

A coordinated search-and-rescue operation by the Guyana Defence Force, MARAD and a fishing vessel brought 69 MV Barima survivors to safety by 5 a.m. on July 19, with crews using searchlights, reduced engine noise and air searches to find people in rough Atlantic waters. Monday’s testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry also confirmed the recovery of the vessel’s emergency beacon, as the probe examines the sinking and maritime safety lapses.

At the MV Barima inquiry, Coast Guard Petty Officer Jeromey Agard said the 26 people his team rescued were not wearing life jackets, but were floating on them or holding debris. GDF pilot Maj. Lloyden Layne also testified that he circled a mysterious red light offshore during the nighttime search. The sinking killed 73 people, left 76 survivors and about 30 missing.

Former minister Annette Ferguson is urging the government to recover the sunken MV Barima and the remains of missing passengers, saying three months after the tragedy families still need answers, accountability and the chance to bury loved ones with dignity. She said the ongoing Commission of Inquiry must not delay recovery efforts, and protesters will gather again Tuesday outside the Office of the President.

Families in Region One are struggling to follow the MV Barima Commission of Inquiry in Georgetown, saying they have received little direct information and cannot afford to travel to the hearings. The ban on livestreaming has intensified calls for daily summaries, regional viewing centres and local secretariat representatives so relatives can track evidence and seek accountability.

Amanza Walton has urged the Commission of Inquiry into the M/V Barima sinking to reverse its ban on livestreaming public hearings in Georgetown. She says families in remote Region One communities and the wider public need practical access to the proceedings, and that online coverage would improve transparency without revealing anything not already heard in the room.

A dead Starlink battery cut Coast Guard rescuers off from communication during the nighttime search for survivors of the MV Barima sinking off the Essequibo Coast, the CoI heard. Midshipman Rahul Ramsarup said rough seas, darkness and no backup system hampered the operation, which eventually rescued 69 people and recovered 71 bodies between July 19 and 22.

Testimony at the MV Barima inquiry says the Guyana Defence Force deployed six aircraft after the boat sank on July 18, but questions remain about how quickly the response began, how accurate flight records are, and what the searches achieved. Witnesses said early aerial missions found no survivors or bodies, leaving the commission to assess whether the emergency response was effective.

The MV Barima inquiry is hearing how rescuers struggled with rough seas, poor visibility and debris blocking access to the overturned vessel, which killed more than 100 people on July 18. Testimony also showed the distress beacon lacked vessel-specific registration, delaying identification and raising questions about emergency response systems and maritime safety oversight in Guyana.