分类： world

Godfrey Smith to Chair Inquiry into Guyana’s Deadly Maritime Tragedy

Almost a year after the deadly MV Barima maritime disaster that claimed dozens of lives and left dozens more missing off the coast of Guyana, the South American nation has turned to regional legal expertise from neighboring Belize to uncover the full truth of the incident. In a formal announcement July 27, 2026, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali confirmed the appointment of respected Belizean jurist Godfrey Smith to chair a five-member independent Commission of Inquiry tasked with unpacking the circumstances of the tragedy.

Smith brings a wealth of high-level legal and public service experience to the role. A former Belizean Attorney General, Foreign Minister, High Court Judge and Justice of Appeal, he currently serves as the CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and holds an appointment as an Ad hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. This is not Smith’s first time working with Guyana on a high-stakes inquiry: he previously served as a member of the country’s 2020 General and Regional Elections Commission of Inquiry. When contacted by News Five, Smith declined to comment publicly on the scope or early preparations for the inquiry, noting it was too early in the process to share details.

Alongside Smith’s appointment, President Ali announced that another senior Belizean legal figure, former Foreign Minister, Attorney General and Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Eamon Courtenay, has been retained to advise the Guyanese government on compensation and assistance frameworks for survivors and families of those killed in the disaster. Courtenay will support the government’s newly launched HEART Initiative, which is designed to deliver financial support to people affected by the tragedy.

In a statement to News Five, Courtenay confirmed he accepted the appointment over the 2026 weekend preceding the formal announcement, saying: “Over the weekend, His Excellency President Irfaan Ali asked me to advise the Government of Guyana on potential claims to be made on behalf of those affected by the very sad MV Barima incident. I readily agreed to do so and look forward to working with the Government to resolve claims when made.”

President Ali emphasized in his announcement that Courtenay’s work to develop assistance modalities does not pre-determine formal compensation awards, clarifying that the framework is still under development. The five-member inquiry panel brings together global and regional maritime expertise, with additional members drawn from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Poland.

The commission’s formal terms of reference cover four core priorities: establishing the direct and underlying causes of the disaster, evaluating whether all parties involved complied with existing international and domestic maritime safety laws and regulations, conducting a full review of the search and rescue operations launched after the incident, and drafting actionable policy recommendations to strengthen Guyana’s maritime safety framework and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The MV Barima disaster resulted in one of the deadliest civilian maritime incidents in Guyana’s recent history. Of the 179 people estimated to have been on board the vessel when it sank, official figures confirm 73 bodies have been recovered, 76 people were rescued alive, and 30 people remain unaccounted for as of the commission’s appointment. The inquiry is scheduled to begin its official work in the coming weeks, with a full report of findings and recommendations expected at a later date. This report was compiled by Paul Lopez for News Five.

28 7 月, 2026
Haiti’s Ministry of Social Affairs and the UN strengthen their collaboration

On July 28, 2026, high-level talks between Haiti’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST) and senior United Nations officials opened a new chapter of coordinated action to address the country’s deepening humanitarian and security challenges. At the MAST headquarters in Port-au-Prince, Marc-Elie Nelson, Haiti’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, welcomed Nicole Kouassi, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Haiti, to align priorities across core areas of mutual work: social protection, humanitarian response, and long-term peacebuilding.

During the closed-door discussions, Minister Nelson laid out the Haitian government’s core strategic vision: to shore up social protection frameworks for the country’s most marginalized communities while creating conditions for the safe, sustainable return of tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their home communities. He outlined tangible progress the administration has already made, including strengthening national social welfare systems, expanding targeted assistance programs, and scaling up direct cash transfer initiatives that reach thousands of vulnerable households monthly. Nelson also emphasized the urgent need to break down silos between short-term emergency humanitarian aid and long-term national development policies, arguing that integrated planning is critical to breaking cycles of instability in the country.

A central focus of the meeting was the urgent crisis facing children caught in Haiti’s rising tide of armed violence. Minister Nelson detailed the work of the Institute for Social Welfare and Research (IBESR), which operates dedicated rehabilitation centers and community-based reintegration programs for at-risk youth. He stressed that child-centered interventions remain a top priority within the country’s Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, Arms Control, and Violence Reduction (DDR) framework, noting that targeted support for affected children is foundational to long-term violence reduction.

Talks also covered two other pressing priorities: preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and expanding protection for children associated with armed groups. Both parties acknowledged the critical on-the-ground support already provided by UN partners including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for these initiatives, and agreed to expand coordinated efforts in these areas moving forward.

By the end of the meeting, the two sides reached a formal agreement to strengthen institutional partnership between MAST and the UN system, improve cross-sector coordination between humanitarian and national social policies, and scale up initiatives that support the safe return of IDPs to their communities. To keep momentum going, attendees confirmed that the joint steering committee overseeing UN Peacebuilding Fund-supported initiatives will hold its next working session on July 30, 2026, at Haiti’s Ministry of Planning to advance ongoing projects.

Closing the meeting, Nelson reaffirmed the Haitian government’s unwavering commitment to close collaboration with the UN to build a unified, integrated response that connects emergency relief, long-term social protection, and sustainable peacebuilding. In response, Kouassi reiterated the UN system’s pledge to continue standing alongside Haitian authorities to develop locally led, sustainable solutions that deliver tangible benefits to the country’s most vulnerable populations.

28 7 月, 2026
Venezuela Withdraws from International Criminal Court

In a landmark move that deepens long-running rifts between the South American nation and the global justice body, Venezuela has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Caracas has long accused the tribunal of systemic political bias, claiming it disproportionately targets sovereign nations in Africa and Latin America, a grievance that sits at the core of its departure.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia confirmed the withdrawal from the Rome Statute — the foundational treaty that established the ICC — in an official announcement, framing the step as a “firm and irrevocable” assertion of national sovereignty. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez echoed this criticism, arguing that the court has been fully politicized and weaponized to advance political agendas against her government.

The decision comes after more than half a decade of escalating tensions between Venezuela and the ICC. In 2021, the court opened a formal investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity that were purportedly committed during the Venezuelan government’s 2017 crackdown on widespread anti-government protests. Thousands of people who say they were victimized by the crackdown have already submitted sworn testimony to ICC investigators as part of the inquiry.

Even following Venezuela’s formal notification, the ICC has made clear that its ongoing investigation will proceed uninterrupted. Per the terms of the Rome Statute, a member state’s withdrawal only takes effect 12 months after the United Nations receives official notification, and it does not have the power to halt investigations that have already been launched before the withdrawal takes effect.

Human rights advocates have raised urgent concerns about the long-term implications of the move. They warn that Venezuela’s exit could create new barriers to holding senior government officials accountable for the alleged abuses at the center of the investigation, weakening prospects for justice for survivors.

The United States has publicly welcomed Venezuela’s decision, with the State Department repeating longstanding criticism that labels the ICC a “corrupt” institution. The U.S. has also issued a call urging all other ICC member states to follow Venezuela’s lead and exit the court. This position aligns with the stance taken by the Trump administration, which repeatedly attacked the court and worked systematically to curtail its global influence.

Legal analysts who specialize in international criminal law note that while the withdrawal is unlikely to disrupt the current investigation into the 2017 events, it will probably limit future cooperation between Venezuelan authorities and ICC prosecutors. This could hamper any additional inquiries or prosecutions that the court may pursue moving forward, creating new hurdles to justice in potential future cases.

27 7 月, 2026
Zoekactie naar slachtoffers MV Barima loopt vast; 30 mensen nog vermist

Nearly two weeks after the deadly MV Barima shipwreck off the coast of Guyana, large-scale search and recovery operations have failed to locate any additional victims over the past 48 hours, leaving 30 passengers and crew unaccounted for amid growing safety warnings from elite French military divers assisting in the effort.

French diving teams, deployed to support the recovery mission, have warned that entering the sunken vessel’s wreckage is an extreme life-threatening risk. According to a member of the French unit, zero visibility inside the hull, caused by thick suspended mud, powerful shifting currents and changing tides, forces divers to explore the wreck almost entirely by touch. Over 15 dives have already been completed, but tangled ropes, loose debris, unstable structural framing and shifting hammock netting further block access and raise the risk of catastrophic collapse for anyone entering the vessel. Raising the entire sunken wreck from the seabed is also classified as exceptionally challenging, experts add, due to the severely deteriorated condition of the hull.

Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed Sunday that the search operation will continue despite the dangerous conditions, noting that no changes to the official casualty count have been recorded over the past two days. Opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, who is participating in coordination of the search effort, echoed that update, confirming no new victims have been recovered in the most recent phase of operations. The current official toll stands at 73 fatalities recovered, 76 survivors rescued, and 30 people still listed as missing.

The MV Barima was en route from the Guyanese capital of Georgetown to Port Kaituma when the disaster occurred. Official passenger logs initially listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members on board, but a review of security camera footage and additional on-the-ground investigations has led the Guyanese government to estimate the total number of people on the vessel was actually around 179, as dozens of passengers boarded without being added to the official manifest.

In a parallel development, the Guyanese government has established an independent international commission of inquiry to probe the root causes of the disaster, which is already the deadliest maritime tragedy in Guyana’s modern history. The probe is led by Phillip Godfrey Smith, former attorney general of Belize, and includes maritime safety and legal experts from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Investigators will examine multiple key lines of inquiry, including whether the vessel was severely overloaded, whether cargo was improperly stowed, whether critical passenger safety protocols were ignored, and whether crew members or regulatory authorities bear responsibility for negligence. Multiple survivors have already given statements confirming water began leaking into the vessel before it sank, and that multiple warnings about the leak were dismissed by crew. Three people, including the vessel’s captain, have already been taken into custody; the captain tested positive for marijuana following the disaster.

Guyanese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the search and recovery mission until all 30 missing people are located and recovered.

27 7 月, 2026
Global Affairs Canada and UNOPS sign agreement

A landmark new partnership between Global Affairs Canada and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has birthed the Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility, a first-of-its-kind regional initiative aimed at boosting Caribbean governments’ capacity to deliver climate-resilient infrastructure projects. Scheduled for an official launch on September 14, 2026, alongside the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) in Miami, the facility fills a critical gap in regional development support by focusing specifically on the under-addressed implementation phase of infrastructure projects.

Funded entirely by the Government of Canada and hosted by UNOPS, RIISE will kick off its operations by supporting four Eastern Caribbean nations: Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. A dedicated regional secretariat, based in Barbados, will serve as the central hub for the initiative, merging on-the-ground regional leadership with UNOPS’s decades of global development expertise and adherence to United Nations administrative standards and core values. The secretariat’s core function will be to coordinate incoming requests from participating national governments and mobilize specialized, context-appropriate expertise to tackle the specific implementation bottlenecks delaying critical infrastructure work.

Across the Caribbean basin, governments have laid out ambitious agendas to upgrade infrastructure and scale up investments in climate resilience, a pressing priority given the region’s outsized vulnerability to extreme weather events and rising sea levels. However, many of these planned projects have been held back by systemic implementation challenges, from limited local specialized capacity to gaps in technical knowledge that slow delivery and increase costs. RIISE was developed directly in response to this expressed demand from Caribbean governments, providing targeted technical support designed to strengthen national implementation capacity and speed up the delivery of high-priority projects.
Brenda Wills, Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with Canada’s longstanding commitment to the Caribbean region. “Canada is proud to support RIISE as part of our longstanding commitment to strengthening climate resilience across the Caribbean,” Wills noted. “By helping governments deliver resilient infrastructure more effectively, build local capacity and promote specialized expertise across the region, RIISE will generate lasting benefits for Caribbean communities while deepening the strong ties between Canada and the region.”
Giuseppe Mancinelli, UNOPS Director for Barbados and Caribbean Coordinator, explained that the initiative is built around the development priorities set by Caribbean nations themselves. “Caribbean governments have clear priorities and an ambitious vision for resilient and sustainable development. RIISE will provide timely access to the specialized expertise they need to overcome implementation challenges and turn those priorities into tangible results for communities. At the same time, it will strengthen national capacities and foster greater regional collaboration,” Mancinelli said.
Unlike existing regional mechanisms that focus primarily on project financing and pre-implementation preparation, RIISE complements these existing frameworks by zeroing in on the execution stage, turning already approved investments and national development priorities into on-the-ground outcomes for local communities. The support offered through the facility is fully customizable to each government’s specific needs, and can include short-term technical advisory services, temporary deployment of specialized infrastructure and resilience experts, and cross-border knowledge and experience exchanges between participating nations.
Participating governments currently facing implementation roadblocks on planned infrastructure projects are encouraged to connect with the RIISE coordinating team early in the process, as the initiative explores opportunities for its first round of support. The official launch next year will mark the formal start of the facility’s operations, kicking off a new chapter of regional collaboration on climate-resilient development in the Caribbean.

27 7 月, 2026
$5.9m in marijuana seized in joint operation

A sweeping 72-hour transnational anti-narcotics operation led jointly by law enforcement agencies from the Bahamas and the United States has yielded one of the region’s recent high-profile drug seizures, with authorities intercepting a speedboat in Bahamian territorial waters and taking three Bahamian nationals into custody. Authorities confirmed the illicit cargo recovered from the vessel has an estimated street value of $5.9 million.

According to Captain Derrick Ferguson, Staff Intelligence Officer for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the coordinated mission kicked off on July 24, after intelligence analysts received a tip that a Bahamian-flagged vessel transporting a massive shipment of illegal narcotics was en route to Bahamian waters. In the pre-dawn hours of July 25, a United States aerial surveillance asset picked up the vessel’s location, activating a coordinated response under two existing regional security frameworks: Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas Maritime Operations Coordination Working Group. The response brought together the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and multiple U.S. law enforcement units.

Ferguson outlined the deployment of resources for the intercept: U.S. authorities provided critical airborne surveillance, the RBPF mobilized its specialized drug enforcement teams, and the Defence Force repositioned two of its vessels, HMBS Kamalamee and HMBS Durward Knowles, to cut off the target’s escape route. As the operation unfolded, the crew of the targeted go-fast vessel realized they had been detected shortly after entering Bahamian territorial waters, and immediately attempted to alter course to flee back into unregulated international waters, Ferguson explained.

With Bahamian defence vessels still repositioning to intercept, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force granted official authorization to a nearby U.S. Coast Guard cutter to board and search the vessel on its behalf. The boarding operation was completed without incident, and search teams uncovered the large cache of suspected marijuana hidden aboard the vessel, leading to the immediate detention of the three Bahamian men on board.

Following the intercept, all three suspects, the seized narcotics, and the go-fast vessel were transferred to a Royal Bahamas Defence Force ship and transported to the HMBS Coral Harbour base for processing. While the initial estimated value of the seizure has been pegged at $5.9 million, authorities have declined to release further details on the exact volume of the drug shipment, noting that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Next steps in the case will see the detainees and the suspected narcotics turned over to the RBPF’s Drug Enforcement Unit to continue the probe. Superintendent Wendy Pearson of the Drug Enforcement Unit confirmed that the intercepted go-fast vessel has also been seized, and will be subject to formal forfeiture under Bahamian drug law.

In a statement emphasizing the strength of bilateral security cooperation, Ferguson stressed that the partnership between the two nations remains robust in the fight against transnational drug trafficking. “Be there no mistake. The US and the Bahamian partnership is strong, and we remain committed to detecting, disrupting, deterring, and denying any transnational criminal activity that may seek to enter and transit the Bahamian maritime jurisdiction, and as well as the US maritime jurisdiction,” he said.

27 7 月, 2026
TRINIS FOR GUYANA PROBE

Following one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Guyana’s recent history, the Guyanese government has formally established an independent international commission of enquiry to investigate the sinking of the passenger ferry MV Barima, with five seasoned global experts tapped to lead the probe. Among the appointed commissioners is Nyree Alfonso, a prominent maritime law specialist from Trinidad and Tobago, who will join the multi-national panel ahead of the official enquiry launch.

In an interview with Trinidad and Tobago’s Express on the eve of her formal appointment, Alfonso outlined that the commission’s core mandate goes beyond simply identifying the cause of the tragedy: the panel will deliver evidence-based recommendations to close gaps in maritime safety regulation and prevent similar loss of life in the future. “I wish we could bring back the dead, but we can’t. We have to figure out what went wrong and make recommendations in the hope that such a tragedy does not happen again,” Alfonso shared, emphasizing the gravity of the panel’s work.

Alfonso, a practicing specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law with years of experience investigating fatal maritime incidents, noted that while she has worked on multiple sea fatality probes, none have matched the scale of the MV Barima disaster. She added that the international makeup of the commission allows it to leverage diverse specialized expertise across every aspect of maritime operations, ensuring a thorough, unbiased investigation. The five-member panel brings cross-disciplinary experience ranging from legal adjudication to naval engineering, a design intended to address every potential factor that contributed to the sinking.

Beyond the investigation itself, Alfonso stressed that robust maritime safety is a global priority for any nation operating passenger ferry services, pointing to Trinidad and Tobago’s popular water taxi network as an example. “If something like this were to happen on a vessel such as the water taxi, the fatalities could be far greater. It is important that maritime safety is done properly,” she said.

Guyanese President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali first announced the creation of the independent commission in an official video statement posted to his public Facebook page, one day before the formal appointment of commissioners. Heading the panel is Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith, a senior legal figure from Belize who currently serves as the Caribbean Community (Caricom) High-Level Representative on Law and Criminal Justice, and also holds a position as an ad hoc Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean. Smith brings prior experience conducting high-level public enquiries in Guyana, having previously served on the country’s 2020 Presidential Commission of Enquiry into General and Regional Elections.

Joining Smith and Alfonso are three other internationally recognized experts: retired Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, a former chief of defence staff for the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force with decades of experience in maritime security and military operations; internationally acclaimed forensic naval architect and marine engineer Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, who has provided expert analysis for dozens of major maritime incident investigations; and Captain Hamada Fouda, a senior maritime surveyor and compliance auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica.

President Ali detailed that the enquiry will leave no stone unturned in examining all circumstances surrounding the July 18 capsizing and sinking of the MV Barima, which was traveling from Guyana’s capital Georgetown to Port Kaituma when the disaster occurred. Key lines of inquiry include the MV Barima’s structural condition and seaworthiness prior to departure, weather and sea conditions on the day of the voyage, crew training and competence, passenger management protocols, the implementation of on-board safety procedures, and the availability and functionality of life-saving equipment. In addition to determining root causes, the commission will deliver formal recommendations for legislative, regulatory and operational reforms to strengthen Guyana’s overall maritime safety framework and reduce the risk of future tragedies.

Official casualty reports confirm that 179 passengers were on board the ferry when it sank. Rescue operations pulled 76 survivors from the water, while recovery teams have recovered 73 bodies to date.

27 7 月, 2026
Antigua and Barbuda Named Among Caribbean’s Best Retirement Destinations for Americans

For American retirees hunting for budget-friendly, easy-to-access Caribbean locations to spend their golden years, Antigua and Barbuda has secured a spot among the top four most desirable destinations, according to a recent analysis from financial education outlet Investopedia.

Released on July 25, the report placed Antigua and Barbuda alongside three other top contenders: the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, and Jamaica. To build its ranking, Investopedia evaluated six core categories: cost of living, pathways to residency, healthcare quality, travel accessibility, overall quality of life, and governance standards, with a total of 38 separate criteria and over 1,500 individual data points drawn from research conducted between January 30 and February 9. Affordability was weighted as the most important factor, followed by residency benefits, healthcare, accessibility, quality of life, and governance.

Among the standout features the report highlighted for Antigua and Barbuda is its widespread English fluency, a major draw for American retirees who avoid language barriers. The country also boasts well-developed infrastructure and established expat communities concentrated in popular areas including Jolly Harbour and English Harbour, making it easy for new arrivals to settle in and build social connections.

For those looking to put down permanent roots, Antigua and Barbuda offers flexible pathways to legal status, Investopedia noted. Retirees can apply for permanent residency, or pursue full citizenship through the nation’s long-running Citizenship by Investment Programme. The program requires a minimum non-refundable contribution of $230,000 U.S. to the national development fund, or a minimum investment of $300,000 U.S. in approved real estate projects.

Another key economic advantage cited in the report is the country’s tax structure, which is designed to be retiree-friendly. Antigua and Barbuda charges no personal income tax, capital gains tax, wealth tax, or inheritance tax, allowing retirees to keep more of their savings and pass assets to heirs without additional tax burdens.

The analysis did not shy away from noting drawbacks, however. A large share of consumer goods in Antigua and Barbuda are imported, which drives up everyday living costs compared to many other locations. Property prices are also significantly higher than regional averages, making upfront entry costs steeper for retirees looking to buy a home.

On the healthcare front, the report framed Antigua and Barbuda’s system as one of the most robust in the Eastern Caribbean. Most advanced medical services are centered at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, the country’s main public hospital located in the capital city of St. John’s, ensuring that retirees have access to critical care close to home.

For U.S. retirees weighing Caribbean retirement options, the ranking positions Antigua and Barbuda as a strong contender that balances lifestyle benefits with legal and tax advantages, even as it acknowledges the higher cost barriers that come with living on the island nation.

27 7 月, 2026
Antigua and Barbuda-Flagged Cargo Ship Remains Grounded in Canada After Refloating Effort Fails

More than three weeks after a critical steering malfunction left it stranded in one of Canada’s busiest commercial waterways, a general cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda remains stuck on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. According to reporting from the Montreal Gazette, the 146-metre vessel, named the Onego Otra, ran aground on June 30 in the stretch of water between Île St-Ours and Contrecoeur, a region located northeast of Montreal.

Canadian Coast Guard spokesperson Craig Macartney confirmed that the grounding was caused by a mechanical failure affecting the ship’s rudder, the key component that controls steering and directional movement. Fortunately, the accident has not triggered major disruptions to regional shipping: the Onego Otra came to rest fully outside the main shipping channel, leaving the core navigation route clear for all other transiting vessels.

As of current updates, there have been no reports of injuries to the crew, and environmental monitoring teams have detected no leaks or pollution in the surrounding waters. Canadian authorities have characterized the overall situation as stable, while ongoing planning continues for a future operation to refloat the stranded vessel.

Initial recovery efforts got underway in mid-July. On July 12 and 13, salvage crews completed lightering operations, a standard procedure that involves offloading cargo to reduce the ship’s draft and overall weight ahead of a refloating attempt. In total, teams removed 2,720 metric tons of cargo from the Onego Otra.

Three powerful tugboats were deployed on July 14 to pull the vessel free from its grounded position, but the first attempt ultimately failed to move the ship. Built in 2010, the Onego Otra had just departed from the port of Montreal when the rudder malfunction occurred, leaving it stranded in its current position. To date, authorities have not announced a timeline for when a second refloating attempt will be launched.

The ship’s prolonged grounding has continued to have no impact on St. Lawrence River commercial traffic, thanks to its position outside the designated navigation lane, keeping supply chains and transit schedules largely unaffected by the incident.

27 7 月, 2026
No more bodies from sunken ferry MV Barima in two days

One week has passed since the Guyanese ferry MV Barima sank in waters off the country’s northeast coast, and recovery operations have hit a critical wall, official sources confirmed Sunday. French military divers deployed to assist in the search and recovery mission say extreme visibility constraints and hazardous conditions inside the sunken vessel have made further progress nearly impossible, leaving 30 passengers and crew still unaccounted for after two full days with no new bodies recovered.

In a nearly three-minute video posted to Guyanese President Irfaan Ali’s official Facebook page, a French diving team member outlined the crippling challenges divers face at the wreck site. “We have to navigate the wreck entirely by touch — we are essentially blind,” the soldier explained. Tangled ropes and unsecured hammocks litter the interior of the sunken ferry, making route planning extremely dangerous, while thick layers of mud, shifting tides and strong persistent currents further obscure visibility and complicate movements. To date, divers have completed 15 separate dives to the wreck, but all attempts to systematically search the interior have been thwarted by these conditions.

The diver added that even attempts to salvage the entire vessel to recover remains face major structural barriers. The wreck’s deteriorated condition means any large-scale lifting operation carries a high risk of the vessel breaking apart entirely, making salvage a logistical nightmare. “I think it’s very, very hard to do such a thing. The wreck is not very stable, so removing it intact is incredibly difficult,” he added.

Multiple authoritative sources familiar with the ongoing operation have confirmed that no additional human remains have been located over the past 48 hours. Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who has joined local authorities in coordinating search efforts, echoed that assessment Sunday, confirming no new recoveries have been made.

The most recent formal update on the disaster was released Friday evening by Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who confirmed at that time that the confirmed death toll stood at 73, 76 people had been rescued alive from the sinking, and 30 people remained missing. When contacted by reporters Sunday evening after he delivered opening remarks at a regional Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) conference at Georgetown’s Marriott Hotel, Phillips initially declined to comment as he walked away from reporters, before offering a brief statement: “The search for bodies and the recovery continues. There has been no change in that,” he said, before moving on to attend the conference’s exhibition opening.

A key discrepancy in passenger counts has added to the complexity of the recovery effort. The official vessel manifest listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members who boarded the MV Barima at Georgetown’s Kingston Goods Wharf for the voyage to Port Kaituma. However, after cross-referencing the manifest with the list of rescued passengers and reviewing security camera footage from the wharf, the Guyanese government now estimates that as many as 179 people were on board the overloaded vessel when it departed.

27 7 月, 2026