Guyana to await inquiry before deciding on compensation for MV Barima tragedy
Key Points(5)
- The Guyana government says it will continue covering funeral and burial expenses and providing immediate assistance to families affected by the sinking of the MV Barima, but any decision on compensation will be made only after an independent Commission of Inquiry completes its investigation.
- Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips said Wednesday that the government's immediate priority is supporting grieving families and completing ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
- "The focus now is not on compensation.
- The focus is on recovering bodies, financing the burial and funeral rites, and providing whatever assistance the families need now," Phillips told a news conference.
- He emphasized that the financial assistance currently being provided should not be viewed as compensation.
The Guyana government says it will continue covering funeral and burial expenses and providing immediate assistance to families affected by the sinking of the MV Barima, but any decision on compensation will be made only after an independent Commission of Inquiry completes its investigation.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips said Wednesday that the government's immediate priority is supporting grieving families and completing ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
"The focus now is not on compensation. The focus is on recovering bodies, financing the burial and funeral rites, and providing whatever assistance the families need now," Phillips told a news conference.
He emphasized that the financial assistance currently being provided should not be viewed as compensation.
"That is not deemed compensation. That is the government's responsibility in times like this to assist families," he said.
Phillips also announced that the government will establish an independent Commission of Inquiry as soon as rescue and recovery operations conclude.
"As we close off the rescue and recovery operation, the government intends to have a commission of inquiry mounted as early as possible," he said.
According to Phillips, the commission's findings and recommendations will determine whether compensation is warranted and how it should be handled.
"After the commission of inquiry, then the issues of compensation will be determined because it will be guided by the commission of inquiry, the report, and the recommendations," he said.
Meanwhile, search and recovery efforts remain underway, with the government deploying 19 vessels and three aircraft following the sinking of the MV Barima.
Phillips said the Guyana Defence Force, the Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration Department have mobilized smaller vessels to search inland waterways for the remaining missing passengers, while technical teams continue assessing the wreck in preparation for its recovery.
