Dear Editor,
My name is Luke Daniels. I live in London, and my nephew Omar Linden Harris, is the hero who lost his life while saving Alicia Atkinson and her 10-month-old child.
As we grieve, we expect that no stone is left unturned in search of the truth of what happened to the MV Barima. As a grieving family member, I welcome the call for an independent commission of inquiry in which the Guyanese people and families of those who perished can have full confidence. I am concerned by the reports that many members of the team announced by the President of Guyana – without consultation and national consensus – have conflicts of interest and are apparently involved in financial and business dealing with the government of Guyana. This does not bode well for national confidence.
As a grieving family, we are further concerned that the government seems to have decided to cease salvaging efforts to recover the MV Barima. ExxonMobil is on the spot and they have all the equipment needed to recover the vessel, so why is this not being done?
We are further alarmed at the rush of the government of Guyana to solely decide on the future of the site of the sinking of the MV Barima, and to have circulated a petition for family members to sign agreeing to cease salvaging efforts. We do not agree and will not be signing any such petition.
Every effort should be made to bring complete and full closure. This is a national tragedy, and the government is not the sole representative of the people of Guyana. All Guyana and family living abroad should be involved in decision-making. Decisions must be arrived at after full, transparent and open consultations and dialogue.