President Ali Defends MV Barima Salvage Review as Questions Over Disaster Persist

The inquiry into the MV Barima disaster heard that the ferry’s emergency beacon was not registered, leaving rescuers unable to quickly identify the vessel, its owner, or emergency contacts after the July 18, 2026 sinking off the Essequibo Coast. Witnesses also described delays and heavy manual coordination in relaying alerts to maritime responders. The hearings, examining rescue failures and wider safety lapses, continue today with Coast Guard testimony.

BK International is finalising plans and hiring experts to raise the MV Barima after winning a G$1.034 billion government contract, but its technical ability has been questioned because of its limited salvage experience. The wreck must be lifted intact for the Commission of Inquiry to preserve forensic evidence and help explain the ferry disaster that killed more than 100 people.

A distress beacon linked to the MV Barima triggered overnight coordination between Timehri control tower staff, the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard and rescue units, with 26 people reported saved by 5:30 a.m. on July 19. Witnesses told the Commission of Inquiry that missing registration details slowed identification, but the alert was treated as an emergency and relayed immediately.

Testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima disaster showed the Coast Guard was alerted by 10:51 p.m. on July 18, but GCAA official Rickford Samaroo said he learned of the distress only around 1 a.m. on July 19. Witnesses also said the vessel’s EPIRB was unregistered, preventing authorities from quickly identifying the boat or emergency contacts. The inquiry is examining response procedures and possible failures that may have contributed to the sinking.

Former Acting Chancellor Carl Singh will represent Public Works Minister Juan Edghill at the Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima disaster, appearing only when needed after public calls for Edghill to step down. The inquiry is examining the July 18, 2026 capsizing of the 1939 vessel en route to Port Kaituma, with safety, oversight and accountability under scrutiny.

This opinion column argues that the M.V. Barima inquiry should follow the evidence before blaming any minister, rather than starting with a predetermined target. It says the Commission of Inquiry must examine operational, managerial and policy failures across agencies like the Transport and Harbours Department and MARAD, and summon ministers only if the facts require it.

Months after the MV Barima sank, families in White Water, Mabaruma, Wauna and nearby communities say promised aid and counselling have not materialised, leaving them to cover travel, memorial and recovery costs themselves. Survivors also described severe overcrowding, engine failures and missing safety measures before the capsizing, renewing calls for accountability and stronger river transport safety in Guyana.

Prosecutors filed their response to a defence bid to halt the murder case against three Transport and Harbours Department employees charged over the MV Barima sinking, with Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir due to rule on Monday. The men remain remanded as the court weighs arguments that marine casualty investigations should affect the criminal proceedings.

A family that survived the capsizing of the MV Barima is urging government officials to speed up reimbursement for cash and belongings lost in the disaster. Grenville Smith said he spent seven hours in rough waters before rescue, but his daughter and grandson died, and delays in recovering his savings are adding to the trauma.

Families of those killed or injured in the July 18 MV Barima disaster say the Commission of Inquiry’s secretariat has failed to clearly explain how they can give evidence or what upcoming meetings are for. They are calling for written instructions and a family liaison officer as formal hearings begin at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on October 14.

This opinion column questions the MV Barima Commission of Inquiry, arguing that its delays, membership, and handling of the salvage process have deepened public distrust. It says the inquiry must deliver real accountability for the deaths and disappearances linked to the vessel, while warning that recovery efforts could further distress grieving families.

The MV Barima commission will meet affected families in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma next week as the inquiry widens into the ferry’s condition, wharf upgrades and rescue response after the July sinking killed more than 100 people. A $1.034 billion contract has also been awarded to recover the wreck, which families say is vital to finding answers.

The Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima disaster visited two East Bank Demerara dry docks used to maintain the ferry before its July 18 capsize, as it prepares for hearings starting October 14. The probe follows 73 deaths, 76 survivors and about 30 missing, with three crew members already charged over the tragedy.

The Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy visited two East Bank Demerara dry docks on Friday as part of its preliminary investigation into where the vessel was maintained and repaired before it capsised on July 18. The inspections, along with visits to MARAD and the Transport and Harbours Department, come ahead of oral hearings set for October 14.

A five-member commission has begun preparing for hearings into the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima, inspecting the Kingston wharf, records and the vessel itself while families and officials wait for testimony from more than 100 witnesses. The probe is facing criticism over its lack of wider consultation and the delay in raising the wreck, which families say is needed to recover the missing and preserve evidence.

The Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy inspected Kingston Wharf on Thursday, where officials found recently upgraded facilities, including a new weighing scale and paved areas. Wharf workers said the improvements were done only after the sinking, raising questions about the facility’s earlier safety and maintenance standards as the probe continues.

In this editorial, Kaieteur News says the MV Barima commission of inquiry has made little progress two months after the capsizing that may have killed around 100 people, with the stalled salvage process deepening public suspicion. It argues the Ali-led PPP/C government’s delays and handling of past major incidents have undermined trust and left families waiting for answers.

The MV Barima Commission of Inquiry visited the Transport and Harbours Department wharf and building in Kingston, Georgetown, as it begins examining the July 18 capsizing that killed 73 people and left about 30 missing. Chairman Justice Godfrey Smith said ministers may be called if needed, while investigators review vessel safety, oversight, rescue efforts and the causes of the disaster.

APNU MP Saiku Andrews said families affected by the MV Barima sinking are still struggling with grief, financial strain and little meaningful support beyond an alleged G$300,000 funeral contribution. At a Commission meeting in Georgetown, he urged the government to accept responsibility, boost assistance and speed up the vessel’s recovery, which families say could help reveal what caused the July 18 disaster.