On 21 July 2026, Guyana’s main opposition coalition, the Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has laid out strict, far-reaching demands for a full and accountable investigation into the sinking of the MV Barima, a decades-old ferry disaster that has already left 27 people dead and dozens unaccounted for.
In a public statement posted to Facebook, APNU parliamentarian Saiku Andrews pushed for the inclusion of independent outside experts in the probe, a break from the government’s plan to have the local Maritime Administration (MARAD) lead the inquiry. He also called for the full, unredacted disclosure of every official document related to the 87-year-old, Scotland-built vessel. “Every manifest, cargo record, maintenance and dry dock file, inspection certificate, crew testing record and emergency response log must be made public,” Andrews said, adding that public transparency is non-negotiable for delivering answers to grieving families.
Andrews specifically targeted Public Utilities Minister Deodat Indar, whose portfolio covers the country’s maritime sector. He noted that Indar has previously warned that substandard vessel inspections put lives at risk by allowing unseaworthy ships to sail, and now the minister must turn over all of the MV Barima’s official safety documentation. “He must now produce the MV Barima’s inspection, seaworthiness, safety certification, crew fitness and emergency readiness records,” Andrews said.
Beyond the investigative demands, the opposition lawmaker called on the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government to deliver full support, fair compensation, and access to independent legal representation to the families of those killed and missing in the disaster. “Victims and their families deserve truth, justice and reform, not excuse, spins or scapegoats,” Andrews emphasized, adding that ministerial responsibility means senior leadership must be held accountable for systemic failures that led to the tragedy.
The disaster has already exposed major gaps in the government’s initial passenger counting and regulatory oversight. Shortly after the sinking, officials discovered that multiple rescued passengers were not listed on the official passenger manifest. A subsequent review of security camera footage from Georgetown’s Kingston Goods Wharf revised the total number of people on board to 179, including 18 crew members – a sharp jump from the initial government count of 133 people (17 crew), meaning 45 unregistered passengers were on the vessel. The government also confirmed that the ferry’s captain and one crew member tested positive for marijuana. As of Tuesday morning, official updates put the number of rescued people at 69, recovered bodies at 27, and 83 people still reported missing.
In a move ahead of the official investigation, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill announced Monday that the entire management team overseeing the MV Barima’s loading, departure and daily operations had been placed on administrative leave. But Andrews pushed back against this step, warning the government against attempting to shift blame to low-level workers while protecting senior political officials who oversaw the country’s maritime regulatory system. “The PPPC government must not scapegoat junior workers while shielding the ministers who supervise the system,” Andrews said. He added that MARAD, the government agency responsible for maritime regulation, cannot credibly investigate its own failures without independent external oversight.