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The Guyana Government has flown over 30 persons from across Region One (Barima-Waini), who had relatives on board MV Barima when it sank on Saturday night, down to the Essequibo Coast, where bodies recovered are being sent for processing and identification. Based on revised figures, the ferry vessel, which departed Port Georgetown on Saturday afternoon en route of Port Kaituma in the North-West District, had some 179 persons on board including 18 crew members. So far, 69 persons have been rescued and 27 bodies were recovered while approximately 83 persons including children are listed as missing. On Monday morning, President Dr Irfaan Ali travelled to the Region One townships of Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, where he met with persons who were rescued as well as relatives of those still missing. He also visited survivors who are receiving medical care at the Mabaruma Hospital. During these engagements with the Head of State, the grieving family members and relatives requested assistance from the Government to travel to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) where a site has been set up at the Charity Waterfront to store the bodies recovered from offshore.
President Ali has committed to helping the bereaved relatives and arrangements were made to fly them down to the Essequibo Coast, where their accommodation and on-the-ground transportation were facility by the State. “We have since provided aircraft to move the 13 [family members] from Port Kaituma to Region Two…and then they will be housed in Essequibo, and they will be transported and they will be utilised in the effort to identify bodies recovered. Likewise…22 persons from Mabaruma are being moved…for the similar reasons,” Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips disclosed during a press briefing on Monday evening.

The PM, who is leading the Government’s emergency response to this horrific maritime tragedy, reported that while 27 bodies were recovered between Sunday and Monday, the search and rescue operation remains active and they believe there could still be more survivors out there. “We still have hope people out there are alive… I’m advised…that with a ship like that, there are pockets of air, right. And wherever people are located, you may very well have people alive there,” Phillips stated. He added, “Our focus…is on finding people, finding them alive. Unfortunately, we did find some people who have passed on…and in that case, efforts to recover their bodies and have them positively identified and working with their families and their communities to bring closure.” Of the 27 bodies recovered since Saturday night’s tragedy, four are children. At the time of the press briefing, the PM indicated that six male adults and four female adults had been identified while the remaining bodies were still being processed. While President Ali has assisted these families from Region One to travel to Essequibo, the Government is looking to ease the burden of grieving families and has put systems in place for them to identify missing relatives without having to travel to region two.

Emergency family assistance centres
Following the ferry incident, the Government on Sunday established Emergency Family Assistance Centres at the Umana Yana in Kingstown, Georgetown; at the Port Kaituma Community Centre, and at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Extension Centre in Kumaka sub-district, Mabaruma.
At the centres, officials are there to assist family members seeking information about their unaccounted relatives and offer varying type of support necessary. But PM Phillips told reports that as part of the processing of the bodies recovered, photographs would be taken and posted up outside of these three help-centres as well as the Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast for persons to possibility identify missing relatives who were on board the vessel. “Families will be allowed to go to those locations and see the photographs. So, what that means is that whenever a family comes, we don’t have to open a body bag or go into the fridge or wherever it is stored because they have the photographs there for easy identification. So far, that has worked,” the PM noted. He added too that the hotline number that was set up has been a good source for receiving information about the missing persons. “I want to commend all the family members and all the people out there for working with us during this difficult time because all of us will want to bring closure and assist the families in having closure and bodies are recovered,” Phillips noted. Meanwhile, after leaving Region One on Monday, President Ali travelled to the Essequibo Coast, where he engaged survivors there as well as the source of family members that are eagerly awaiting news of their loved ones who still unaccounted for. In fact, on Monday evening, the Guyanese Leader joined persons at the Charity Waterfront, as they await the difficult process of identifying their loved ones.

Retrieve additional bodies
Throughout the night, additionally bodies that were recovered in the rough Atlantic waters were brought onshore. Up to press time, Guyana Times was unable to confirm the exact number of bodies found, a part from the 27 reported earlier at the press briefing. Divers, both local as well as those from the French Guiana army, had been mobilised to the location where MV Barima sank some nine miles off the shore of Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast. This newspaper was told that the divers went down to the seabed where the sunken vessel is and were able to retrieve additional bodies. Meanwhile, of those 27 bodies found earlier on Monday, this publication was able to confirm the identified of several. These include: two-year-old Kelly Williams; Dwayne Forbes; Marcia Beharry; Oxwell John; Shivana LaCruz Romascino; Trevon Sam, and Shamera Smith.
Meanwhile, in Georgetown, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo and a team of Cabinet Ministers engaged Amerindian leaders from communities affected by the MV Barima tragedy. These officials had travelled to Georgetown for the annual National Toshaos Conference (NTC), which was scheduled to start on Monday but the opening was postponed to today. During the engagement, VP Jagdeo heard from community representatives and discussed the impact of the tragedy, while offering all possible resources to assisting them. Moreover, the Guyana Government through the Human Services and Social Security Ministry is also lending critical psychosocial support to the survivors and also family members of those missing persons, with professionals deployed to all three help centres as well as the Essequibo Coast to engage survivors and bereaved family members.

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A batch of Guyanese athletes and officials have departed the “Land of Many Waters” for Glasgow, Scotland, where they will fly the Golden Arrowhead at the XXIII Commonwealth Games.
The multi-sport event that will feature 10 disciplines and six para-sports will get underway on Thursday, July 23 before concluding on Sunday, August 2.
On Monday, a contingent of locally-based athletes and officials began their journey to Glasgow as they prepare to compete among some 3000 athletes expected at the Games.
Among the travelling contingent were swimming’s Aleka Persaud, 3×3 basketball’s Travis Belgrave alongside the entire boxing team which comprise Akeelah Vancooten, Keevin Allicock, Shakquain James, and Emmanuel Pompey.
Meanwhile, Boxing Coach Lennox Daniels, Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) Vice President Rawle Toney and physiotherapist Vanessa Wickham were also among the travelling Guyanese contingent.

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…sunken vessel located; divers, including French
troops, on site to continue search

…as Govt sends home entire T&HD team that loaded vessel

Following Saturday night’s capsizing of MV Barima off the Essequibo Coast, authorities have since recovered 27 bodies, including those of four children, while some 83 persons are still missing and the number of survivors was revised to 69. These revelations were made by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, who is leading the Government emergency response mission, during a press briefing on Monday evening. According to the PM, “At this stage of the operations, the number of rescued persons, including passengers and crew, is now 69, and a total of 27 bodies have been recovered as of now. The latest report suggests an additional 83 persons are still to be found.” This revised figure of 179 persons on board the vessel comes after authorities discovered on Sunday that nearly half of the persons rescued that day were not listed on the passenger manifest generated by the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD). Initially, it was reported that there were 116 passengers, along with 17 crew members and some 268 tonnes of cargo, on board the vessel when it departed Port Georgetown on Saturday afternoon, heading for Port Kaituma in the North-West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini). But the manifest was found to be grossly inaccurate after only 35 of the reported 67 persons who were rescued from the sunken vessel on Sunday were listed on the document.

Revised figures
This discovery led to the launch of a comprehensive investigation, which included efforts to determine an accurate count of the persons on board the sunken vessel.
“We’ve put together an investigative body, and they would have worked overnight [on Sunday]. And coming out of the work that they did overnight in terms of reviewing the footage as the boat was loading with the passengers and cargo, we arrive at a figure of 179 [persons on board including the crew],” the PM noted.
In fact, he added that it is unlikely that there would be a major change to this 179 – a figure that also included a revised survivor list of 69, that is, two more than the previous day. Phillips explained that the additional two persons are crew members, who were assisting with the search operation after being rescued, and were inadvertently left off the initial list of survivors. In addition to discrepancies with the passenger manifest, authorities had also discovered on Sunday that the captain of the vessel, along with at least two crew members – the first engineer and a sailor – who were rescued, tested positive for cannabis. They were arrested and up to press time on Monday, they remained in Police custody. PM Phillips said during the press briefing that the ongoing investigation would determine what, if any, charges are laid against these three men.

Team sent off
Both the PM and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had previously assured that those found responsible for this incident would be held accountable.

In fact, the entire management team responsible for the loading, dispatch, and overall management of the MV Barima prior to its departure from Georgetown has been sent off from duty. On Sunday evening, Minister Edghill had convened a late-night meeting with the senior management staff of the T&HD, which manages ferry operations in Guyana. During that engagement, the team that was on duty for Saturday’s loading of the ferry was formally notified of the suspension and the administrative steps moving forward. According to the Public Works Ministry, this decision was taken to ensure the absolute integrity of the upcoming investigation into the horrific ferry incident that has left dozens of persons, including children missing, and feared dead.

“By removing the team from the workplace, the Government intends to prevent any potential tampering with or interference in evidence and materials, thereby ensuring a completely fair and unprejudiced outcome,” the Ministry stated on Monday. Additionally, video footage from the Kingston Goods Wharf, where MV Barima was loaded and departed from, has already been extracted by the Guyana Police Force for a comprehensive review as part of the ongoing investigation.

Bodies recovered
Meanwhile, of the 27 bodies recovered since Saturday night’s tragedy, four are those of children. At the time of the press briefing, PM Phillips said the bodies of six male adults and four female adults had been identified, and the remaining bodies were still being processed. “The bodies are being photographed. They’re stored and we’re going through the whole identification process. By our next briefing, we’ll be able to let you know a number as to how many have been identified and the families informed. There are bodies that were identified and already families are informed, but I will give you that figure the next briefing,” the PM told this newspaper on Monday evening.
The bodies recovered are being taken to Charity, where a designated area has been set up for family members to go identify them.

MV Barima located
Nevertheless, Phillips contended that the search and rescue operations is still ongoing with continued support from stakeholders, including the private sector and local fisherfolk. In fact, it was Haresh Singh, a fisherman from the Essequibo Coast – who, along with others, had been critical to this search and rescue exercise since the distress call was received from the vessel – who discovered the location of the sunken ferry on Monday. Singh, who had rescued a number of survivors on Sunday, returned to the location on Monday and observed items suspected to be from the capsized vessel floating on the water’s surface. He subsequently alerted the authorities and the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard, accompanied by a vessel supplied by ExxonMobil Guyana and the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc (VEHSI), Sealand Survey’s Gilligan Island, confirmed the presence of the ferry.
According to the PM, the vessel was found resting on the seabed about nine miles off the shore of Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast – in the vicinity of the location where the MV Barima had initially sent out a distress signal on Saturday just before midnight. Phillips noted that experts from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) have indicated that with a ship like the MV Barima, there could be pockets of air and possibly persons trapped alive. “You may very well have people alive there… There’s always an opportunity, always a chance of saving a few lives. And that’s why we insist that this remains a search and rescue operation,” the PM emphasised.

Regional assistance
Since the discovery of the vessel, assets, including divers, have been mobilised at the location. In fact, Guyana has received critical support from regional neighbours including from French Guiana, which has sent a 15-member military team to assist with ongoing search, rescue and recovery operations. The French troops, led by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Touboul, arrived on the Essequibo Coast on Monday and includes 12 specialist divers, two medics, and one mechanic. PM Phillips told reporters that the French divers have joined the local team offshore and were assessing conditions to determine whether to go under water overnight or await daylight today. The divers eventually decided to dive overnight and have been bringing up bodies. In addition, the Trinidad and Tobago Government has also deployed additional search and dive capabilities to Guyana to assist with these efforts.

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GAC has announced its partnership with the Global Super League (GSL) as the Official Automotive Partner for the tournament’s third season, further strengthening the brand’s growing presence across the Caribbean and its commitment to supporting world-class sporting events.
The GSL has quickly established itself as one of the Region’s premier cricket tournaments, bringing together champion franchises from around the world to compete in Guyana.
Sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI), the tournament showcases elite talent while delivering exciting entertainment to cricket fans across the Caribbean and beyond.
As the Official Automotive Partner, GAC will enjoy exclusive automotive category rights throughout the competition, with prominent brand visibility across the tournament’s broadcast, digital, and in-stadium platforms.

Fans can also expect to see GAC vehicles showcased at the venue, highlighting the brand’s innovative design, advanced technology, and growing model line-up.
The partnership will be spearheaded by HSM Motors, the official GAC dealer in Guyana, with support from Motorworld, GAC’s regional distributor for the Caribbean.
Together, they will leverage the GSL platform to further strengthen GAC’s connection with communities through sport, culture, and shared experiences. As one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing automotive brands, GAC continues to expand its regional presence while championing initiatives that bring people together.
Welcoming the partnership, Sir Clive Lloyd, GSL Chairman, shared, “We are delighted to welcome GAC as the Official Automotive Partner of the Global Super League. GAC has demonstrated tremendous growth throughout the Caribbean and shares our commitment to excellence, innovation, and community engagement. We look forward to working together to elevate the fan experience and continue building the Global Super League into a world-class sporting event.”
Motorworld Chairman Tariq Amjad added, “The Global Super League has rapidly become one of the most exciting sporting events in the Region, attracting world-class talent and passionate cricket fans from around the globe. We are proud to partner with the tournament and introduce GAC to Guyana, the 22nd market in the Caribbean, through such a prestigious platform.
“GAC brings world-class engineering and manufacturing expertise, strengthened by more than two decades of producing vehicles through its joint ventures with Toyota and Honda in China. Renowned for its quality, reliability, and innovation, we are excited for the people of Guyana to discover the brand that has been making waves across the Caribbean.”
On the other hand, HSM Motors Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mikhail Hosein expressed, “This partnership marks an exciting opportunity to introduce GAC to Guyanese consumers and showcase not only our award-winning vehicles, but also the confidence and peace of mind that come with purchasing through Guyana’s official GAC dealer, HSM Motors. Customers will benefit from the country’s best bumper-to-bumper warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km, genuine GAC parts, factory-trained technicians, and exceptional aftersales support. As we officially launch GAC in Guyana, our commitment extends far beyond selling vehicles. We are dedicated to delivering an ownership experience that reflects the quality, innovation, and reliability engineered into every GAC.”
The 2026 Global Super League will once again bring together champion teams from multiple cricketing nations in Guyana, providing a global stage for elite competition and unforgettable moments for fans. (GSLT20)

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The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Monday articulated its support for the Guyanese populace amid the MV Barima tragedy, which occurred over the weekend.
The CPL shared in a statement, “The thoughts of everyone at the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are with those who have been impacted by the MV Barima tragedy.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and to all who remain missing, as search and rescue efforts continue. We stand with Guyana and the wider Caribbean community during this difficult time.
The CPL family sends strength and solidarity to all affected.”
The MV Barima was en route to Region One from Georgetown when it capsized off the Essequibo Coast on Saturday night. More than 100 passengers were estimated to have been on board the vessel, with some 69 persons rescued.

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…for Barima victims

Your Eyewitness is still stunned at the enormity of the tragedy he’s had to absorb since he got the news of the MV Barima capsizing in the Atlantic on the way from GT to Port Kaituma late Saturday night. Don’t expect any humour today, Dear Readers – light or otherwise. While, unfortunately, we haven’t heard of any additional survivors to the 69 we were told about – we gotta keep hope alive. The immediate priority is to save every life we possibly can – and support the families of those affected.
Beyond that, however, the MV Barima tragedy should become a turning point for maritime safety in Guyana – rather than another disaster that fades after a CoI report. We must insist that this be implemented. Authorities are investigating possible irregularities involving the passenger manifest, crew conduct, and enforcement of safety procedures and already, the captain and the first engineer have been arrested after testing positive for marijuana.
Even if it weren’t for rescued passengers insisting that the ferry was quite overloaded with people and cargo – the fact that only 35 of the 69 rescued were on the passenger list confirms this beyond a shadow of doubt. One passenger claimed there were at least 200 persons aboard – almost double the 116 originally claimed!! Your Eyewitness thinks we must treat false passenger manifests as a serious criminal offence!! An inaccurate manifest ain’t just a paperwork violation – it directly hampers rescue operations because authorities can’t know how many people are actually missing!! If officials or employees knowingly facilitated off-the-book boarding, they should face criminal prosecution!
The Government must conduct a serious review of our ferry fleet and make some tough decisions on seaworthiness of some ferries!! The Barima is 87 years old – and had to be approaching the end of its life. There was a report a few months ago that bids had been received for some serious rehabilitating of the Barima – and also the MV Ma Lisha that had been acquired only two years ago from India as part of the government’s acceleration of its fleet renewal programme!! Is the Ma Lisha in dry dock right now and this is why the Barima was doing all the heavy ferrying?? Based on the Barima’s age and the extensive list of repairs on the bid document, shouldn’t repairing the Barima have taken priority??
As the investigation into the Barima tragedy proceeds, we must ratchet up support for the victims’ families – including those not on the manifest but identified after a comprehensive programme soliciting information from relatives and friends who’ve missed them. There should be help obtaining official documentation and a single point of contact for information. Beyond compensation, Government should establish a family assistance centre providing counselling and financial guidance.

…for Spain
There are football finals, and then there are football disappearances. To your Eyewitness who supported them, Argentina turned up for the pre-match photographs, dutifully stood through the national anthem, and then apparently caught the first flight back to Buenos Aires. For the next 90 minutes, Spain seemed to be playing an unusually well-organised training session!!
This was supposed to be the clash of the tournament – South American flair against Spanish precision, passion against possession, history against history!! Instead, Spain monopolised not just the ball but the occasion. Argentina’s famed midfield looked like tourists admiring Spanish architecture from a respectful distance, while their attack appeared to have lost the address of the penalty area!
One expected fireworks, but what arrived was a damp sparkler. Spain deserved every accolade. They pressed relentlessly, controlled the tempo, and played with the confidence of a side convinced the trophy already had their name engraved on it!!
Argentina, by contrast, including Messi, never found the intensity that had carried them through the knockout rounds!!

…traduced in Gaza
It’s going on three years since the war in Gaza started! So, it doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that the Israelis ain’t gonna stop their killing frenzy until the Palestinians are driven into the sea!!

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Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has called on Indigenous leaders to help steer the next phase of development in Guyana’s hinterland communities by placing greater emphasis on job creation, income-generating activities and housing, while assuring that Government support through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) will continue over the next six years. Jagdeo made the remarks on Monday during an interactive session with Toshaos attending the 2026 National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, where he outlined the Government’s vision for strengthening village economies and improving livelihoods across Indigenous communities. Addressing the gathering at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the VP reflected on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) victory at the 2025 General and Regional Elections, noting that the party increased its parliamentary majority from one seat to seven. He said the outcome demonstrated public confidence in the Government’s development agenda. “The development of our country is not an easy task and development doesn’t come overnight,” Jagdeo said. “We have had to walk a long road together from one of the poorest countries in the world, one of the most heavily indebted countries in the world, to today one of the shining examples of how a country should manage progressively its economy and its national affairs.” He said Guyana’s progress had been achieved despite political challenges and criticism from the opposition, stressing that meaningful development requires careful planning rather than rhetoric.

Oil wealth misconceptions
Jagdeo also addressed what he described as misconceptions surrounding Guyana’s oil revenues, saying many people assume the country’s oil wealth is sufficient to fund every national need. He explained that all of the oil revenues collected to date are still insufficient to finance even 40 per cent of the national budget. “I keep saying to them that until this year, all of the oil money that we collected can’t fund 40 per cent of our budget. Every cent of oil money that we collected can’t fund 40 per cent of our budget,” he said. According to the VP, this demonstrates the importance of prudent financial management and continued economic growth outside of the petroleum sector.

Hinterland benefiting
Jagdeo said the Government has worked to ensure that Indigenous communities receive a fair share of national resources through investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and direct financing. He pointed to the LCDS as one of the major programmes supporting village development, noting that approximately $14 billion has been allocated directly to Indigenous villages over the past three years.
Those funds, he said, have financed more than 3,000 community projects across over 250 villages. Jagdeo commended village leaders for managing those projects efficiently. “We have been able to directly allocate funds to the villages through the LCDS for the villages to spend this money in a way that the people of the villages see fit, and that has yielded enormous benefits,” he said. He contrasted the progress made by village councils with projects previously managed by international agencies, arguing that local leadership had delivered results more efficiently. “If we had given external agencies this responsibility, it would take 100 years to do what the people and leadership of these villages have done in three short years,” he told the gathering.

Focus on jobs
While acknowledging improvements in roads, schools, health facilities and public services, Jagdeo said the Government believes the next phase of development must focus on creating employment opportunities within hinterland communities. He noted that six years ago unemployment was one of the country’s biggest concerns. Today, however, labour shortages exist across many coastal regions because of economic expansion. The situation in the hinterland, he said, remains different. “In the hinterland, we still have unemployment in many of the villages,” Jagdeo said. “One of the things we’ll be discussing is how we can work with you to generate more employment opportunities in the villages.”
He encouraged Toshaos to identify sustainable economic activities that match the strengths of their individual communities. Recognising that each village has different resources and environmental conditions, Jagdeo said development plans cannot follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Communities located in forested areas, savannahs or along rivers, he noted, will require different economic models.

Sustainable opportunities
Jagdeo said discussions throughout the conference would centre on identifying projects capable of generating long-term income rather than short-lived ventures. Among the possibilities he suggested were expanding coconut cultivation in Region Two, honey production using beehives in forested communities, livestock rearing and other agricultural enterprises with established markets. Using coconut production as an example, Jagdeo said villages could establish large-scale plantations capable of generating tens of millions of dollars annually while creating dozens of jobs. He stressed that any project selected must be supported by reliable markets to ensure long-term sustainability. “We need to go for the things that have the market in the long run,” he said.

Innovation hubs
To support economic diversification, Jagdeo announced that the Government intends to establish innovation and technical support hubs in every administrative region. These centres, he explained, will provide technical guidance and help communities develop sustainable enterprises. He said traditional extension services alone would not be enough to drive the level of diversification Government is seeking.

Zero-interest loans
Jagdeo also highlighted plans for the establishment of a Development Bank, which he said will play a major role in supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs. The bank will provide zero-interest loans without requiring collateral, addressing one of the major challenges faced by residents of Amerindian villages where communal lands cannot be used as security for commercial loans. He said discussions would examine ways of making small loans more easily accessible through partnerships between village councils and the Development Bank. The Government, he added, also wants feedback from village leaders on how best to administer community credit programmes after previous revolving loan initiatives experienced repayment challenges. “You can’t develop a business environment without credit,” Jagdeo said.

Building village capacity
The VP also proposed expanding opportunities for village councils to undertake public infrastructure projects. Rather than relying heavily on outside contractors, Jagdeo said Government wants Indigenous communities to build the technical capacity to construct roads and other public works themselves. He acknowledged that this would require investment in heavy equipment, training and maintenance.
Equipment valued at tens of millions of dollars, he noted, must be properly managed by trained operators to ensure it remains functional over the long term.
“We have to make sure that we don’t break up that equipment,” Jagdeo said, adding that building technical skills within villages would create additional employment while strengthening local capacity.

Housing support
Housing was another major area identified for discussion during the conference.
Jagdeo said the Government wants to work with Indigenous leaders to develop more effective ways of providing housing assistance. Rather than issuing small cash grants that are sometimes diverted to other purposes, he said Government is considering alternative approaches that would ensure assistance directly improves people’s homes. He urged Toshaos to provide recommendations on how housing programmes can better meet the needs of residents in their respective communities.

Preparing village proposals
Jagdeo encouraged every village to use the conference to develop proposals identifying at least three economic initiatives capable of generating jobs and increasing household incomes. Those proposals, he said, will be examined by the Government to determine their costs, sustainability and the type of support required for implementation. He said while Government will continue investing in schools, healthcare, roads and other traditional infrastructure, the focus must now expand to creating lasting economic opportunities within villages. “We have to make a transformation,” Jagdeo said. “We have to focus on income-generating activities, employment creation, economic infrastructure, housing and access to credit so that people can build better lives without having to leave their communities.”

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Local fisherman Haresh Singh, one of the first civilians to respond to the sinking of the MV Barima and who also subsequently found the location of the missing vessel, has shared a moving account of the overnight rescue operation, describing the desperate efforts to save passengers who were left stranded in rough waters.
Singh said he received an urgent call at around midnight on Saturday from Regional Chairman Devin Mohan and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Mandalall Ramraj, requesting his assistance after reports emerged that passengers from the vessel were floating at sea. “I received a call from the Chairman and Minister Ramraj. They said there were people floating after the steamer sank and asked me to help. I told them, ‘No problem.’

I left my bed immediately and within three to four minutes I was at the waterside,” Singh recalled. He quickly mobilised his brother and other fishermen and the group departed in their fishing boat to search for survivors. Singh said the conditions were extremely challenging, with rough seas and little visibility. After making contact with a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard vessel, the fishermen were directed towards the Hackney area. Singh said he advised the Coast Guard to launch distress flares while the smaller fishing boats sped ahead to begin the search. “When we reached there, the Coast Guard had already started picking up some survivors,” he said. Recalling the rescue, Singh described the scenes as heartbreaking. “The situation was very traumatising. The hardest part was seeing the children. We gave them biscuits and water, but hearing parents talk about losing their loved ones broke my heart,” he said. One father’s story, Singh noted, deeply affected him. “He told me he held onto his children, but his wife was gone. That brought tears to my eyes,” he recounted. While searching the area, Singh said he noticed fuel, personal belongings and other debris floating on the water, leading him to believe the vessel had sunk nearby. He relayed the information to the Coast Guard to assist with the search. The fishermen rescued 11 survivors, including two young children, two girls, one woman and several men.

“All you could hear were whistles. They were desperate to survive,” Singh said.

Own experience
Drawing on his own experience of surviving a boating accident years ago, Singh said he understood what the survivors were enduring. “I once floated in the water for seven hours after my own boat sank. I know that trauma. The only thing going through your mind is, ‘God, let me live.’” The rescue effort was eventually cut short after two children and one adult aboard Singh’s boat lost consciousness and had to be rushed ashore for medical treatment. Despite the emotional ordeal, Singh said he remains committed to helping locate the vessel and those still missing.
“My job now is to find this boat and bring it ashore so families can get answers. Whether their loved ones are alive or dead, we have to find them,” he said.
He also praised the coordinated response by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the GDF Coast Guard, police and fellow fishermen, saying everyone worked together with one goal to save as many lives as possible.

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The capsizing of the MV Barima stands among the darkest moments in Guyana’s maritime history. The scale of the human loss has shaken the nation, leaving families grieving, communities traumatised, and an entire country awaiting answers. As search, rescue and recovery efforts continue, the national focus must remain where it belongs on accounting for every missing person, supporting survivors and ensuring that affected families receive the care and assistance they deserve.
National tragedies require calm leadership, coordinated action, and a commitment to transparency. Those principles have appropriately framed the Government’s response, particularly the decision to prioritise rescue operations while committing to a full, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
In moments of profound national grief, there is often pressure for immediate conclusions. Rumours spread rapidly, speculation flourishes, and competing narratives emerge long before evidence has been gathered. Such an environment serves neither the victims nor their families. It risks obscuring facts, undermining confidence in the investigative process and creating unnecessary divisions at a time when unity is essential.
That is why the commitment to an independent inquiry is both necessary and welcome. A tragedy of this magnitude demands a process that is credible, transparent and capable of answering difficult questions. Every aspect of the vessel’s operation, safety procedures, regulatory oversight, emergency response and decision-making before and during the voyage must be subjected to careful scrutiny. Any shortcomings, whether institutional, operational or individual, must be identified and addressed.
The families who have lost loved ones deserve nothing less than the complete truth. Survivors deserve assurances that lessons will be learned. The wider public deserves confidence that recommendations arising from the investigation will strengthen maritime safety and reduce the likelihood of another such catastrophe.
Equally significant has been the emphasis placed on preserving the integrity of the rescue operation. Search efforts in maritime disasters are complex undertakings that require coordination among multiple agencies, specialised equipment and sustained logistical support. They are also highly time-sensitive, particularly during the critical hours immediately following an incident.
The mobilisation of military assets, emergency responders, civilian vessels, local fishermen, regional authorities, and volunteers demonstrates the importance of a unified national response when lives are at stake. Such cooperation reflects the understanding that disaster response cannot be confined to any single institution. It depends upon the combined efforts of public agencies, private citizens, and communities working towards a common humanitarian objective.
Recognition is also due to the many first responders who have operated under physically-demanding and emotionally-taxing conditions. Rescue personnel, medical teams, volunteers and ordinary citizens who answered the call have performed duties that extend well beyond professional obligation. Their contributions underscore the resilience that often emerges during periods of national crisis.
Maritime transport remains a lifeline for many hinterland communities, connecting residents to healthcare, education, commerce and essential Government services. Thousands of Guyanese depend upon these vessels because alternatives are limited or impractical. Public confidence in that transportation network is, therefore, indispensable.
The eventual findings of the investigation must not be filed away as another official report. They should become the foundation for comprehensive improvements to maritime safety, including stronger oversight, rigorous enforcement of existing regulations, regular vessel inspections, emergency preparedness, passenger accountability and operational protocols suited to the realities of Guyana’s waterways and coastal conditions. Where legislative or regulatory gaps exist, they should be addressed without delay.
The national conversation should also recognise the importance of allowing investigators to complete their work free from political interference or public pressure. Accountability carries the greatest legitimacy when conclusions are supported by evidence rather than conjecture.
The coming days will undoubtedly remain painful as the search continues, more difficult news may yet emerge. Every confirmed loss represents a family forever changed, a community diminished, and a nation reminded of the heavy human cost of tragedy.
A response grounded in compassion, transparency and accountability offers the strongest path forward. The immediate mission is to continue every possible effort to locate those still missing and provide support to survivors and bereaved families.

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