Guyana opposition leader presses for salvage of sunken MV Barima
Key Points(5)
- Guyana’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed says survivors and relatives of victims of the MV Barima tragedy are united in their call for the sunken ferry to be salvaged, insisting that recovering the vessel is critical to providing closure for grieving families.
- Mohamed said he has met with survivors and relatives of those who perished in the disaster and has also offered assistance to support efforts to raise the vessel, which sank off Guyana’s coast.
- More than 30 people remain missing.
- Speaking to reporters on Wednesday during an Amerindian Peoples Association protest outside the Office of the President, Mohamed said there should be no hesitation in recovering the vessel.
- Djokovic to make return at Cincinnati Masters Sports Djokovic to make return at Cincinnati Masters July 31, 2026 “The families want the vessel to float and the families told me even if it is the bones themselves, they want the bones because it will bring some closure to them,” Mohamed said.
Guyana’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed says families of those missing and presumed dead following the sinking of the MV Barima remain united in their call for the vessel to be recovered, arguing that salvaging the ferry is necessary to bring closure to grieving relatives.
Mohamed said he has met with survivors and families of victims and has offered assistance to support efforts to raise the vessel, which sank off Guyana’s coast. More than 30 people remain missing following the tragedy.
His comments come as the government considers whether to salvage the ferry, with Prime Minister Mark Phillips saying authorities have received several local and international offers of assistance but will be guided by the wishes of the victims’ families.
Speaking Wednesday during an Amerindian Peoples Association protest outside the Office of the President, Mohamed said there should be no delay in recovering the vessel.
“The families want the vessel to float and the families told me even if it is the bones themselves, they want the bones because it will bring some closure to them,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed accused the government of resisting efforts to recover the ferry because of concerns over what could be discovered once the vessel is raised. He alleged that mechanical issues with the vessel could become part of public scrutiny.
“But the prime minister and the Government don’t want this vessel to float because they know there are a lot of bodies under there, and they know that when they salvage the vessel there are a lot of mechanical problems—the anchor is not working, the electronic systems and only one engine was working. So that is their concern, how they will look,” he said.
The government has not confirmed those claims.
Phillips said earlier this week that additional bodies could still be inside the vessel but stressed that the families of victims would remain central to decisions about whether salvage operations proceed.
He also said the Commission of Inquiry recently announced into the disaster will continue regardless of whether the ferry is recovered.
Mohamed questioned whether the inquiry would deliver justice for the victims and their relatives, raising concerns about the involvement of government officials connected to the tragedy.
“If Edghill and Indar are still within the system, they will influence everything that the commission will request and so we will not get any justice from this commission,” he said.
The MV Barima tragedy has prompted calls for answers over the circumstances surrounding the sinking, with families continuing to seek information about their missing relatives and the recovery of the vessel.
