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By: Ryhaan Shah

No one should be surprised that young people who interface daily and, maybe, all day with the high-tech world of computer screens and Android voices find that they actually yearn for the human touch. So, a whole new world has opened up to what’s being called “grandma tourism”.
Young travellers are looking for tours and classes that are led specifically by older women. One-third of millennials report feeling stressed and find that there is a calming influence when they spend time with the older generation.
A report by tour guide company GetYourGuide shows that 76 percent of Gen Z travellers from France, Germany, the UK, and the US would book a “grandma-inspired” holiday activity like learning to make pasta with a nonna (grandmother) in Italy or hiring Japanese grandmothers as their tour guides for travel in Japan.
For 32-year-old Los Angeles-based fashion stylist Brittany Diego, the maternal warmth she experienced in her nonna-led pasta class was the highlight of her trip to Italy, and several countries are already cashing in on this tourism trend.
French grandmas Mamie Daniela and Mamie Catherine will teach you to bake French pastries; Japanese octogenarian Kayoko, in Tokyo, will teach you the art of making musubi, a Japanese rice and nori sandwich; and, in Australia, Wardandi Bibbulum will share her knowledge of native foods.
In Budapest, Hungary, Zita Pancsovay and her grandmother will serve up a traditional Hungarian dinner as you relax in their home, and tourists can experience Ayurvedic cooking with Grandma Shyama in her home in Kochi, India. Grandma Kate Wright in Galway, Ireland, began teaching tourists how to make Irish dishes like brown bread and stew in her cosy home kitchen.
So why not grandma tourism in Guyana as well? We have nannies and grannies who can help young people unwind and relax with some authentic cooking, craft classes, or storytelling. It would take some enterprising entrepreneur to put together a tour, or tours, of upriver or coastland travel combined with a Guyanese lunch or craft class led by a nanny or granny – and there are many of those around with warmth and humour and with long-time stories to tell and songs to sing – who would do wonderfully well with such an enterprise.
There could be a ready market in the Guyanese diaspora with children and grandchildren who have grown up hearing tales of their parents’ and grandparents’ youthful days back home and wanting to experience the liveliness of a bottom-house gaff while learning to clap roti or make a pot of cook-up or pepper pot.
Those who have already sought out and experienced grandma-led tourist activities talk about the nurturing care as a key part of the attraction. They find the travel experience more meaningful because of the opportunity to learn directly from those whose knowledge of the particular region and its crafts and cuisine is shaped over a lifetime.
Connecting with women who have learnt their artistry and culinary know-how from their own mothers and grandmothers provides a very special feeling for millennials, who gain a sense of tranquillity just by being away from their work environment with its computers and phones that demand constant attention.
As well as offering feelings of safety and calm, matriarchs pass on knowledge, traditional skills, and local customs that may otherwise be lost, and they also offer younger travellers the confidence to be comfortable in their own skin.
The benefits of this kind of tourism run both ways since being engaged with younger people is good for the older generation’s health and well-being, and psychologist and author Terri Apter, who specialises in family dynamics, identity, and relationships, says that while younger people gain from the grandmothers’ years of experience, the grandmas are also keen to keep busy, share their skills, and pass on their traditional knowledge.
She adds, “Young people will undoubtedly get a very warm reception from older people. Because if you look at phases of development across the lifespan, one need of older age is generativity, which means giving back. Being engaged with and teaching younger people is extremely good for older people’s mood, their health, and their longevity.”
Grandmother tourism allows the younger generation to slow down and experience something that’s hands-on and authentic, and in a world where they are spending more and more time on hi-tech devices, a cooking class or simply spending a day that offers a genuine human touch gives them a chance to switch off and enjoy the warm and inviting human connection they are missing.

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Dear Editor,
I commend the Consulate General (CG) of Guyana in NY, under the leadership of Ambassador Mike Brotherson, for organising a diaspora prayer vigil on Friday evening in memory of the victims of the tragic MV Barima incident and in support of the families and survivors.
Multiple prayer events were held over the last few days at home and in the diaspora. No harm done! The more, the better. The CG event was official from the Government. One shouldn’t criticise the Government or its missions for organising or supporting vigils.
The Government held several vigils in Guyana, embracing all. Now is not the time for deliberate political rebuke of the Guyana NY CG or of those in Queens organising vigils. Those who organise vigils should not be criticised.
At a time of profound grief and national sorrow, now is not the time for politics or to criticise the Government or its diplomatic missions or Queens-based organisations for holding prayer vigils. From a rhetorical perspective, critics must not employ emotionally charged language – terms such as “puppets”, etc. – to describe vigils in support of the victims of the tragedy.
The Government and its missions don’t have a monopoly on vigils or events. All can hold vigils. But missions must follow protocols and be guided by the Government in organising events that don’t contradict diplomacy or goals and the Barima incident’s objectives. Community organisations are free to hold vigils. Several community organisations held or plan vigils in Queens and one in Brooklyn. There is no evidence that the CG or any NGO organised vigils in response to others. The NY CG waited for Government plans. It can’t act on its own.
The consulate vigil, as indeed others, provided an opportunity for members of the Guyanese diaspora to come together in prayer, reflection, and solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by this heart-breaking tragedy. Such occasions remind us that, even across borders, we remain united as one people in times of mourning.
The consulate’s initiative, as indeed others, has demonstrated compassion, leadership, and a recognition of the important role the diaspora plays in supporting our nation during moments of crisis. By creating a space for collective remembrance, the Consulate helped foster healing and reaffirmed the enduring bonds that connect Guyanese at home and abroad. There were several speakers, including Brotherson and UN Ambassador Carolyn Birkett Rodrigues. US Senator Chuck Schumer sent a message, and NY Senator Roxanne Persaud of Brooklyn delivered remarks. Pastor Dr Carl Stuart read from the Bible.
National tragedies should transcend political differences and serve as occasions for unity, empathy, and mutual support. The CG prayer vigil reflected these values by bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to honour the lives that were lost and to offer comfort through faith and fellowship. There were prayers, speeches, and spiritual songs from persons of several faiths, ethnicities, age groups, genders, and geographies of Guyana.
I express my appreciation to Ambassador Brotherson and others involved in planning and coordinating this meaningful event. Their efforts are worthy of recognition and exemplify the spirit of public service, community engagement, compassion, empathy, and care.
As Guyana continues to mourn this tragic loss, it is my hope that the compassion and unity demonstrated during the vigil will inspire continued support for the bereaved families and reinforce our collective commitment to standing together in times of adversity.
Thanks to all who organised vigils, providing the Guyanese diaspora with a meaningful opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of the MV Barima tragedy.

Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram

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(As I write about my great-grandfather’s journey to British Guiana during the national tragedy of the MV Barima, I note the irony that he set sail from the docks near the Guyana Depot location where Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers [GRSE] is presently headquartered and which, in 2023, built the MV Ma Lisha ferry that was supposed to replace the MV Barima to transport Guyanese between Georgetown and Region One.)
As the Allanshaw reached the open waters of the lower Hooghly, Rambishoon and his fellow immigrants were divided into groups and placed in charge of one of the immigrants who would be their guard (“chowkidar”) and then taken below to the second deck. He and the other single men, several of whom he had travelled with on the train to Howrah Junction, were assigned spaces in the fore of the deck; the married couples with their children were strategically placed between them and the single women at the back. He would sleep on his blanket on the two feet of space that was assigned to him. The ceiling was just five feet six inches, so he was fortunate to be only five feet two inches. The few men who were taller had to crouch when moving around.
From the ship’s records in Guyana, we learn that there were 627 indentured labourers who left India on the Allanshaw in 1888: 385 men, 153 women, 12 boys, four girls, and 73 “infants” (39 males and 34 females under 12 years); one woman died, three men returned to India, and there were three paying passengers. The Allanshaw was a 1589-tonne, three-masted, full-rigged iron sailing ship with a length of 263 ft, a beam of 40 ft, and a draught of 23.0 ft.
She was launched on 29 August 1874, so she was fairly new and supposed to comply with the latest regulations for transporting “coolies”. Yet on an 1883 trip to Australia with “Government immigrants”, it carried 393 “worthy poor” compared to its 1888 trip with 627 coolies. There was absolutely no privacy for anyone. But the separation of the single women and men was rather ironic because, as illustrated in the infamous 1885 trip of the same Allanshaw, when a sixteen-year-old girl, Maharani, was raped by a sailor and subsequently died. This was a recurrent feature of the crossing.
As in the depot, in a gesture to caste sensibilities, meals were prepared (here in the galley/kitchen) as far as practicable by Brahmins but were served on deck to everyone seated together. The meals were very basic peasant fare with rice, flour/chappatis, and dal as staples along with vegetables (pumpkins, yams, and potatoes) cooked in oil or ghee with the spices (turmeric, onions, garlic, chillies, coriander seeds, and mustard seeds) that would define “Indian cooking” in the Girmitiya diaspora. Chura (parched rice), gram/satoo (ground parched channa), and biscuits were dry foods served during rough weather. Six sheep or goats per 100 men were also taken aboard for a fortnightly mutton treat. Small portions of preserved milk were provided to lactating mothers and babies. Overall, the food had improved much since the early days of indentureship, and the main challenge to the immigrants was the confined space and the tossing and turning of the ship on the rough seas.
The earlier high mortality had also been reduced through better food and the services of a ship’s surgeon who was provided with the basic pharmaceuticals of the 19th century. One Indian concoction became “Vicks VapoRub”. The doctor would have been assisted with any births by immigrant midwives (Chamain). Depression was endemic among the Indians as they continued their journey into the unknown. This was assuaged somewhat by those in their midst who were returning to British Guiana after returning to India and were unable to readjust to their old “home”.
Rambishoon landed after 81 days on the “Kala Pani” (the Black Waters) in Georgetown on November 18th, 1888, and disembarked on the 20th and was marched north up Water Street to the Immigration Depot at Barrack Street, Kingston, near the mouth of the Demerara River and next to the lighthouse he had espied when the ship approached land.
While he might have been a boy from the countryside, his exposure to Patna and Calcutta made even Stabroek Market, the new Victoria Law Courts, and City Hall under construction suffer by comparison. In 1888, Water Street still had tramways. It would be the first and last time he saw Georgetown.

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– to name panel today

In keeping with a previous commitment by the Guyana Government for an independent probe, a high-level team, comprising top international experts, will be named to spearhead a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the July 18 capsizing of MV Barima, which has resulted in the deaths of 73 persons with another 30 still unaccounted for. This announcement was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali in a video statement on Saturday.
“I shall – [today, Sunday] 26 of July, 2026 – announce a five-member team to constitute that commission”, he said.
According to the Head of State, the commission will comprise distinguished experts and professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in relevant fields, including law, marine engineering, maritime safety and disaster investigation.

“The members have been carefully selected for their independence, technical expertise, and proven ability,” President Ali noted, adding that the Commission will determine its own procedures and methods of work. The commission will be tasked with conducting a thorough and impartial examination into the MV Barima tragedy, including the circumstances leading to the capsizing and sinking of the vessel, the response efforts and all other related matters. Among its work will be to identify any shortcomings or failures, recommend appropriate accountability, and propose reforms that will strengthen the safety and reliability of Guyana’s maritime transportation system.
The CoI panel will also have to examine the causes and contributing factors to the disaster, including the loading of the vessel, passenger boarding procedures, conditions on board, the vessel’s seaworthiness, maintenance history, compliance with maritime laws and safety standards, the conduct and competence of the master and crew, passenger management and lifesaving arrangements, as well as the roles of weather, sea conditions and other operational factors. Further, the commission will undertake a review of the search, rescue, and recovery operations, assessing the adequacy, coordination, and effectiveness of the response by all agencies and stakeholders involved.

Moreover, the team will be empowered to determine whether any acts of negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty or institutional failures contributed to or caused this tragedy and to recommend any legislative, regulatory, institutional, or operational reforms necessary to prevent a recurrence. The MV Barima departed the Georgetown stelling at about 15:00h on Saturday, July 18, on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), carrying 179 persons, including 18 crew members – 76 of whom survived the ordeal – and cargo. According to officials, the vessel encountered rough sea conditions off the Essequibo Coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River late that night.
Survivors have recalled that the ferry began tilting to one side before capsizing, throwing passengers into the water in less than a minute. A distress signal transmitted at approximately 23:01h was received by aviation authorities, triggering a large-scale multi-agency emergency response that continues. Addressing concerns raised in the aftermath of the disaster, blood samples were taken from the captain and crew members for testing.
Authorities released the results showing positive tests for cannabis and subsequently arrested the captain and two crew members. Another official from the Transport and Harbours Department (THD), which manages ferry services, was also detained as part of the police investigation. Subsequently, the Government, in its initial probe into the tragic incident, uncovered that more people were aboard the vessel than had been recorded on the original passenger manifest.
That information, along with the manifest, was immediately made public. Days after the incident, the Government committed to launching an independent CoI to determine the circumstances that led to the sinking of MV Barima. Meanwhile, search and recovery operations are continuing, with divers and other technical experts deployed offshore in an ongoing effort to recover additional bodies. The sunken ferry currently lies on the seabed some nine miles off the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The aim is to have the vessel positioned on its keel in order to bring it closer to shore where divers can safely enter.
Guyana is receiving support from regional partners, including the French Guiana Army, the Brazilian Navy, and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, which have deployed maritime assets and personnel to aid in recovering the missing persons.
This publication understands that the divers are battling harsh Atlantic conditions but remain adamant in their efforts to continue the recovery operation.

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Days after Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that the Government will be increasing the value of contracts that can be awarded directly to communities, some 31 village councils in the North Pakaraimas are set to receive $30 million each to support the execution of priority works within their communities. According to reports, the projects were identified by the communities and will be implemented directly by them, creating local employment, strengthening community capacity and ensuring that public investments respond to the needs of residents. This initiative is being advanced through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. Speaking at the National Toshaos Council Conference (NTC) on Tuesday, the VP told the gathering that the adjustment will allow villages and communities to undertake larger projects and benefit more directly from Government investments.
“We will raise the limit at the tender board for communities from $5 million to $30 million. We will get this done before you leave so that we can give the village a contract of up to $30 million. In the past, it could have only been $5 million. That will significantly change the level of community participation,” Jagdeo said.

He made the announcement while discussing the Government’s allocation of $10 billion this year for hinterland road infrastructure. He noted that while some of the funding has already been committed to major projects, the increased contracting threshold creates an opportunity to revisit how a portion of the remaining funds can be allocated and executed. Among the major projects already earmarked for funding are the continued construction of the road from Moruca to Kwebanna in Region One, improvements to the road network from Mabaruma to Wauna and upgrades to key roadways in Region Nine.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that the Government announced that this year, Guyana will invest $3 billion to assist Amerindian families in building new homes and carrying out repairs to existing ones in villages across hinterland communities. VP Jagdeo said the programme will be implemented in collaboration with the Amerindian Affairs Ministry and village councils, with oversight committees established to ensure that the initiative is managed transparently and fairly. He explained that the Government wanted to avoid complaints of favouritism or exclusion by putting a clear accountability mechanism in place before the programme begins. According to the VP, the allocation of funds among villages will be based on factors such as population size, with further consultation to determine the implementation of the framework.

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– urges stronger waste management to safeguard coastal ecosystems

In observance of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, which will be celebrated on Sunday, the Government of Guyana remains committed to supporting mangrove restoration, coastal monitoring, environmental education and community partnerships.
More importantly, a message from Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha stated that the Government will continue working with the relevant agencies and local stakeholders to improve waste management and strengthen care for mangrove areas.
The Minister, nevertheless, stated that mangroves are part green shield, part nursery and part storehouse for carbon, while adding that they support fisheries and coastal livelihoods, shelter wildlife and stabilise vulnerable shorelines.
He noted that in recent years, nearly $1 billion has been invested in mangrove management and restoration, while mentioning that 11 green-grey infrastructure projects have been completed across Regions Two, Four, and Five, benefiting more than 11,000 persons.
“Mangrove extent increased from 19,616 hectares in 2020 to 25,644 hectares in 2025 – a net gain of 6,028 hectares, or about 31 per cent. Overall gains were recorded in Regions One, Three, Four, Five, and Six. Region Two moved in the opposite direction, declining from 4966 hectares to 3567 hectares, a loss of 1399 hectares,” Mustapha stated in a missive on Saturday.
Furthermore, the statement revealed that the national total also fell from 24,517 hectares in 2023 to 22,799 hectares in 2024 before rising again in 2025. However, as the coast changes, a nation’s vigilance must change with it. In light of this, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), together with the Mangrove Management Action Network, remains an important institution.
“Science, engineering, policy, and community knowledge must speak to each other. Through the Guyana Mangrove Information System, GuyMIS, we can track changes and guide restoration more carefully. Not every loss is obvious from the roadside. Sometimes the map tells the story first”, the Minister added.
In addition, the Minister noted that investments must be made in groynes, breakwaters, planting, and monitoring.
“But if garbage is being pushed into drains, canals, kokers, and waterways, we are working against ourselves. Waste discarded inland doesn’t simply disappear. It travels. It reaches the coast. It settles among the roots. We can’t plant our way out of a dumping problem.”
A 2026 coastal assessment stated that visible waste was recorded at 53 of 60 locations assessed across Regions Two to Six, with plastic packaging being present at 51 of the 53 affected locations. To eliminate the disposal of garbage, it is advised to use approved disposal services. Meanwhile, businesses are also challenged to manage their waste responsibly.

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Dear Editor,
The passenger ferry MV Barima capsized and sank off Guyana’s Atlantic coast on July 18, 2026, while on its scheduled voyage from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. Approximately 179 people were reported to be on board. The tragedy claimed many lives, while others were rescued, and an official investigation continues into the cause of the disaster.
The MV Barima was far more than a passenger vessel. It was one of Guyana’s most recognisable ferries, serving generations of Guyanese for decades. Built in Scotland in 1939, she arrived in what was then British Guiana at the close of the steamship era, becoming one of the country’s earliest diesel-powered passenger ferries.
She first operated on the Demerara River crossing before being assigned to the coastal and riverine service between Georgetown and Port Kaituma, carrying passengers, cargo, and hope to communities in the North West District.
Port Kaituma itself occupies an important place in history. It is best known internationally as the community nearest to Jonestown, where on November 18, 1978, US Congressman Leo Ryan, members of his delegation, and others were murdered at the nearby airstrip, followed by the tragic Jonestown mass murder-suicide of 914 souls.
Three years ago, my dear brother-in-law, Alan, lost his life while working on the Port Kaituma trail. That personal loss makes this latest tragedy even more heart-breaking for my family.
Long before the events of July 18, 2026, the MV Barima had already earned a place of honour in Guyana’s history. During the horrific violence of May 1964, when racial and political hatred engulfed Wismar and Mackenzie, thousands of East Indian residents were forced to flee for their lives as homes were burnt, families were attacked, and entire communities were driven out.
In those dark days, the MV Barima, together with the RH Carr, the Emperor, launches, speedboats, and numerous privately owned vessels, became a fleet of mercy. They transported thousands of terrified men, women, and children from the violence to safety. For many survivors, the MV Barima was not simply a ferry; it was a lifeline, a vessel of compassion amid one of the darkest chapters in Guyana’s history.
After an extraordinary 87 years of service, the old ferry had endured the passage of time remarkably well. In 2017, it underwent a major rehabilitation valued at approximately GY$150.6 million. The extensive work included repairs to the hull, propellers, rudders, twin engines, passenger accommodations, and safety equipment, allowing the vessel to continue serving as the principal ferry on the Georgetown–Port Kaituma route.
Today, that proud vessel rests approximately 50 feet beneath the Atlantic waters off the coast of Guyana. Her final voyage ended before reaching its destination, and many of those aboard never returned home.
The time for answers will come. For now, the priority remains recovery and bringing closure to grieving families. In due course, the vessel should be refloated and subjected to a thorough, independent forensic examination to determine the cause of this tragedy.
The families deserve to know what happened. The people of Guyana deserve those answers as well. Only a transparent and impartial investigation can help ensure accountability, restore public confidence, and provide lessons that may prevent such a disaster from ever happening again.
May those who perished rest in eternal peace, and may those who survived find strength, healing, and comfort in the days ahead. May the truth behind this tragedy be uncovered, and may the question of why it happened one day be answered.
Above all, may the memories of those who were lost never fade. May their names and faces be forever etched in stone, in our hearts, and in the living history of Guyana so that they will always be remembered with honour, dignity, and love.

Yours sincerely,
Dmitri Allicock

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– bodies of 30 victims are still missing

One week after the MV Barima capsized off the Essequibo Coast with 179 people onboard, the search and recovery operations continued on Saturday to locate just about 30 persons who remain missing. Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is leading the Government’s emergency response efforts to the MV Barima tragedy, did not give a public update on Saturday. However, when contacted, he told Guyana Times that the diving operations continue despite the harsh Atlantic conditions.
“They still continued the diving operations. There has been no additional recovery of any bodies or no progress with the righting of the vessel… It was a difficult day today, and the water is choppy out there,” the PM explained.
The ill-fated MV Barima capsized and sank off the Essequibo Coast on the night of July 18 while en route to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini). As of Friday, the death toll from this tragic boat accident is 73. Of those bodies recovered, 69 had been positively identified, and 63 of them have already been handed over to family members for funeral rites, for which the Government is covering all expenses. The additional bodies found were scheduled to be transported to their respective communities to be laid to rest.

Since Thursday, funeral services have been held across the country for the victims of this tragedy. The number of people rescued from last weekend’s horrific ferry accident remains at 76. Both aerial and maritime assets have been deployed to continue the search and recovery operations off the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), where the sunken vessel is lying on its side, some nine miles away on the seabed in the Atlantic. The aim is to have the vessel positioned on its keel in order to bring it closer to shore where divers can safely enter. “There is a view that if we right the vessel, that itself may lead to us finding some more bodies,” the PM stated during Friday’s briefing.

Foreign support
Guyana is receiving support from regional partners, including the French Guiana army, the Brazilian navy, and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, which have deployed maritime assets and personnel, including divers, to aid in recovering the missing people. During Friday’s press briefing, PM Phillips indicated that these recovery efforts will continue “for as long as necessary” to not only bring closure to the families who are anxiously awaiting news of their missing loved ones but also to show dignity and respect to those 30 persons who perished in the tragedy and are still unaccounted for. Asked on Saturday how long the foreign teams will remain here to support this recovery mission, the PM told this publication that there was no timeline set for their stays here.
“They didn’t say how long they are here for, but I guess at some stage, we’ll have a meeting and we’ll have to decide… when we’ll stop or [when] the involvement of the foreign teams will stop. So, they’re still here, and they’re still diving,” Phillips posited. This publication understands that the divers, both local and foreign, managed to successfully attach cables and ropes to the sunken ferry on Wednesday. However, those closely involved in the recovery operation explained that when they tried to pull the vessel, the cables and ropes kept bursting. Despite the rough Atlantic conditions and some divers even becoming sick, the teams remain adamant in their efforts to move the vessel. In fact, at least five dives were carried out on Friday, each lasting about 45 to 60 minutes, during which one body was recovered.

Aerial surveillance
Meanwhile, aerial surveillance flights are also continuing to support the extensive search operation, which has been expanded by an additional 32 square miles – westward to Waini Point in Region One and eastward to Adventure in Region Two. Over the past week, President Dr Irfaan Ali has been on the ground at Charity, Essequibo Coast, where the recovered bodies are taken for identification and storage. Addressing anxious family members awaiting news of their missing loved ones, the head of state assured them that every available resource is being utilised in the recovery efforts. President Ali had previously told the families that if efforts to right the sunken vessel into a floating position failed, then a decision would have to be made in consultation with the families on salvaging the wreck. This, he pointed out, however, is a last resort.
“We’re hopeful that we don’t get to that [stage]. If we get to that, all of us together will have to make a decision as to the best option [forward],” the Guyanese leader informed relatives.
The MV Barima departed the Georgetown stelling at about 15:00 on Saturday on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma, carrying 179 persons, including 18 crew members and cargo. According to officials, the vessel encountered rough sea conditions off the Essequibo Coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River late that night.
Survivors have recounted that the ferry began tilting to one side before capsizing, throwing passengers into the water in less than a minute. A distress signal transmitted at approximately 23:01 was received by aviation authorities, triggering a large-scale multi-agency emergency response that continues. Addressing concerns raised in the aftermath of the disaster, blood samples were taken from the captain and crew members for testing.
Authorities released the results, showing positive tests for cannabis, and subsequently arrested the captain and two crew members. Another official from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), which manages ferry services, was also detained as part of the police investigation. Subsequently, the Government, in its initial probe into the issue, uncovered that more people were aboard the vessel than had been recorded on the original passenger manifest. That information, along with the manifest, was immediately made public and resulted in several managers at the T&HD being sent off on suspension.
Meanwhile, the Guyanese Government is preparing to launch an international and independent commission of inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy.

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The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has delivered a “solid” half-year performance, having recorded a 43 per cent increase in profit after tax compared to the corresponding period last year.
In his Half Year 2026 Financial Report, GBTI Chairman Suresh Beharry stated that this result during the first six months of this year is marked by resilient earnings, prudent balance sheet management, and sound capital adequacy.
Apart from the growth in after-tax profits, the bank’s earnings per share (EPS) also rose by 44 per cent, reflecting the continued effectiveness of GBTI’s strategic priorities and the resilience of its operating model.

Moreover, Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) stood at 18.3 per cent during this period, underlining the commercial bank’s focus on efficient capital deployment and sustainable returns.
The GBTI Chairman further reported that strong client engagement continued to be a growth driver, with total deposits increasing to $286 billion – up 13 per cent compared to the prior year.
“This performance underscores the continued confidence our clients place in GBTI and affirms the strength of our client-centric offerings and relationship-focused banking model,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Beharry said the bank remains optimistic about the outlook for the business.
“Our priorities include sustaining profitable growth, advancing our digital capabilities, deepening client relationships, and maintaining the financial discipline that underpins our performance. I look forward to collaborating with our teams and stakeholders as we continue to evolve GBTI into a more agile, innovative institution, well-positioned for the future,” the chairman posited.
This solid performance for the first six months of this year comes on the heels of GBTI recording another strong financial year in 2025 with $4.5 billion in profit after tax – an increase from the $4 billion in the previous year.

This result was driven by robust loan portfolio growth of 17 per cent and a further 29 per cent increase in customer deposits throughout the year. With a capital adequacy ratio of 16.42 per cent in 2025, the bank continued to demonstrate solid financial resilience, prudent risk management, and operational strength.
Last year also saw significant progress in GBTI’s digital transformation agenda. The bank launched digital account opening and retail loan onboarding, which further streamlined the customer experience.
In 2025, GBTI also expanded its ATM and POS networks, improving access to banking services across Guyana. “As Guyana’s economy thrives, fuelled by the oil & gas sector and non-oil growth, GBTI maintained its focus on SME financing, cybersecurity, and governance, positioning itself as a trusted partner for businesses and communities,” the Chairman had noted in the 2025 financial report.
He went on to add that beyond numbers, GBTI continues to champion nation-building as it strives not just to shape the future of banking but to redefine it.
This ambition is reflected in the number of new offerings introduced by the commercial bank.
Only in May, GBTI introduced a new mortgage rate structure, starting as low as three per cent.
The bank explained that the new rates are designed to make homeownership more affordable for Guyanese families, whether they are buying their first home, building a home, or refinancing an existing mortgage.
The new rates apply to every loan size, from low-income housing and young professional housing to high-value properties. This move aligns with the Guyanese government’s aggressive housing drive to promote homeownership among Guyanese.
In fact, GBTI has participated in the Government’s low-income housing loan scheme, offering rates of three per cent per annum for loans up to $4 million; 3.7 per cent for loans between $4 million and $9 million; 4.25 per cent for loans between $9 million and $20 million; 4.75 per cent for loans between $20 million and $40 million; 4.99 per cent for loans between $40 million and $60 million; and between 5.25 and 6.5 per cent per annum for loans of $60 million and above.

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​Dear Editor,
​I am writing to publicise a matter of critical national importance regarding public safety and infrastructure development in Guyana.
My name is Vishul Ishwaridin, and I am a proud Guyanese citizen and the owner of Fire Sprinkler & Safety Equipment Services, located at 56 Area H, Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
Over the years, our nation has witnessed far too many devastating disasters that have claimed innocent lives. Many of these tragedies could be prevented or mitigated if we simply implement stricter, safer building protocols.
​For a considerable time, I have written numerous letters to various Ministries and Government agencies advocating for a vital policy change: making automatic fire sprinkler protection systems mandatory for all schools, hospitals, Government Ministries, and any commercial or apartment buildings that are three stories and higher. Because I do not know if these official correspondences have reached the relevant authorities, I am turning to the press to ensure this urgent message is heard.
​To demonstrate my absolute commitment to a safer Guyana, I have repeatedly offered my company’s installation services completely free of cost, requesting payment only for the physical materials used. I previously offered this service during the construction of the new Good Hope Secondary School and Christ Church Secondary School. The latter, being a three-storey structure, presents a significant evacuation risk; in the event of a fire, safely evacuating hundreds of students and educators from upper floors is a monumental challenge.
​Currently, Queen’s College is constructing a new three-storey building. Once again, I am publicly offering my company’s services free of labour costs to install a fire sprinkler protection system for this building, asking only that the cost of materials be covered.
​We must understand the distinct layers of fire safety:
​Fire Alarms: Alert occupants to evacuate the building immediately.
​Fire Extinguishers: Are vital but only effective against small, localised fires.
Fire Sprinkler Systems: Automatically extinguish or contain a fire at its very origin, preventing it from spreading and saving both lives and property before emergency services even arrive.
As our country experiences rapid growth and modernisation, our safety standards must evolve accordingly. I stand ready to assist. I would be deeply grateful if the relevant authorities, the Ministry of Education, or the Ministry of Home Affairs would contact me. It would be my distinct honour to contribute to the safety of our great nation and protect the lives of our children and citizens.

Yours respectfully,
Vishul Ishwaridin

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