Govt’s “evil” handling of MV Barima tragedy — Ganesh Mahipaul — Opinion

Govt’s “evil” handling of MV Barima tragedy

September 8, 2026·2 min read

Published in

Guyana Standard ·Sep 8, 2026

Twenty-five days have now passed since the closure of the Expressions of Interest for the salvaging of the MV Barima^[1], and the PPP Government still cannot, or will not, tell the Guyanese people which company or companies are being engaged to salvage the vessel.

This is wickedness. This is shameless behaviour. This is an insult to the intelligence and dignity of the Guyanese people. Evil to say the least is how this Government is choosing to treat the families of more than 100 people who lost their lives.

This was the largest tragedy in modern Guyana. More than 100 lives were lost. Families were shattered. Children lost parents. Parents lost children. Husbands and wives lost each other. Yet, instead of treating the recovery of the MV Barima as an urgent national priority, the PPP Government has allowed 25 days to pass without the families knowing about the salvager.

What kind of Government does this? What kind of leadership is this? Where is the urgency? Where is the transparency? Where is the respect for the dead and their grieving families?

The Government owes Guyanese a proper explanation for this disgraceful delay. Let me say what many Guyanese are already asking: is this delay deliberate? Because the longer the MV Barima remains on the seabed, the greater the concern about the preservation of evidence that could be critical to the Commission of Inquiry^[2].

There have already been serious questions about the vessel, including questions about its condition and seaworthiness. Those questions must be answered by evidence. But if evidence is allowed to deteriorate while the Government drags its feet, then the public has every right to question why.

The PPP Government cannot claim to want the truth while behaving as though recovering the most important piece of evidence in this tragedy is an inconvenience.

This is beyond incompetence. It is political wickedness. It is gross disrespect. It is shameless. And it is an insult to every Guyanese who wants answers.

President Irfaan Ali and his Government^[3] should be ashamed of this behaviour. More than 100 people are dead, and the families are still waiting. The nation is waiting. The evidence is sitting at the bottom of the sea and the Government is moving at a pace that gives Guyanese every reason to question whether the salvaging of the MV Barima is truly being treated as a priority.

Enough of this madness! Salvage the vessel. Preserve the evidence. Tell the nation who is doing the job. Let the Commission of Inquiry^[2] examine the evidence. And let the truth come out. Because when more than 100 Guyanese lose their lives, government silence is not an acceptable response.

Twenty-five days are 25 days too many.

*Ganesh Mahipaul, M.P.*

References

Bids for salvaging of MV Barima to be processed and evaluated -PM Phillips - News Source Guyana — newssourcegy.com ↩
Commission of Inquiry into MV Barima tragedy likely to begin hearings in September - News Source Guyana — newssourcegy.com ↩
Operation to retrieve MV Barima to begin by midday — President Ali – Department of Public Information, Guyana — dpi.gov.gy ↩

Bids for salvaging of MV Barima to be processed and evaluated -PM Phillips - News Source Guyana

newssourcegy.com · 2026-08-14

Bids for salvaging of MV Barima to be processed and evaluated -PM Phillips - News Source Guyana # Bids for salvaging of MV Barima to be processed and evaluated -PM Phillips By News Source Guyana on August 14, 2026 Prime Minister Mark Phillips has indicated that Expressions of Interest (EOI) submitted by salvage companies for the salvaging of the MV Barima ferry must first be processed and evaluated before a determination is made. Marine salvage contractors have until the end of today to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOI) to the Government. At a press conference this afternoon, Prime Minister Phillips said once the bids are in, the process will move ahead. “Today is the day for the submission of bids, and you know the process… the bids come in, then they have to go through the bids, they have to do evaluation and then determine who will get the contract, and then negotiate the contract. So, it is a process that has started and the process is ongoing to its finality,” the Prime Minister told News Source. The MV Barima capsized and sank off the Essequibo Coast on July 18 with more than 175 people on board. The bodies of 73 people were recovered with at least 30 others still missing. A total of 76 persons were rescued. Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul has called on the Government to salvage the vessel without delay. In a statement today, MP Mahipaul also called on the Government to release the names of the companies that submitted bid at the close of business today, together with the total bid sum submitted by each bidder. “The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, invited qualified marine salvage contractors to submit proposals for the recovery of the MV Barima. The deadline for submission is today, Friday, August 14, 2026. The public is entitled to know, how many companies submitted bids; the names of every bidder; the total amount quoted by each bidder; the technical proposal and methodology being offered, where disclosure is permissible; and the proposed timeline for recovery,” MP Mahipaul said. Additionally, he said the Government must also indicate whether it intends to award the contract on “a no cure, no pay” basis or through a direct financial arrangement. MP Mahipaul said the vessel is critical to the investigation and must be handled with care. “The recovery of the MV Barima is not an ordinary commercial exercise. The vessel is central to the investigation into one of the most devastating maritime tragedies in Guyana’s recent history. MARAD itself has stated that the salvage proposals must address the protection and documentation of forensic evidence for use by the Commission of Inquiry,” MP Mahipaul said. He said the families of those who lost their lives, and the wider Guyanese public deserve nothing less than full transparency.

Commission of Inquiry into MV Barima tragedy likely to begin hearings in September - News Source Guyana

newssourcegy.com · 2026-08-18

Today marks one month since the MV Barima sank off the Essequibo Coast, claiming the lives of more than 100 persons. With the ongoing calls for the subject Ministers to be removed from office over the

Operation to retrieve MV Barima to begin by midday — President Ali – Department of Public Information, Guyana

dpi.gov.gy · 2026-07-22

Operation to retrieve MV Barima to begin by midday — President Ali – Department of Public Information, Guyana ... # Operation to retrieve MV Barima to begin by midday — President Ali ... The government is expected to commence an operation by midday on Wednesday to retrieve the sunken MV Barima using specialised flotation equipment as rescue and recovery efforts enter a critical new phase. ... President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced the plan during a late-night briefing with families of those still missing following the maritime tragedy. ... He assured them that technical teams and emergency responders would continue working around the clock until every possible effort has been exhausted. ... > “We are continuing all night. There is a plan also being discussed now between the technical people, the Coast Guard and the expertise that came in. We are going to try to activate that plan by midday tomorrow,” the president said. ... According to the head of state, the operation will involve using flotation devices in an effort to move the vessel from the seabed. He said it allows responders greater access to continue the rescue and recovery mission. ... Dr Ali said additional divers and specialised assets are scheduled to arrive early today to support the operation, while teams from the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, police, private sector partners, and civilian volunteers will maintain their search throughout the night. ... President Ali noted that the government has utilised advanced seabed mapping technology, with support from ExxonMobil, to determine the vessel’s exact position and guide recovery efforts. The survey revealed that the vessel is resting on its starboard side on the seabed, with its stern closest to the shoreline. ... Recognising the emotional strain on those awaiting news of their loved ones, President Ali arranged transportation for families to rest overnight while ensuring they would be promptly informed of any ... and returned to ... The president stressed that despite the challenging conditions, the operation remains a rescue and recovery mission. ... “We have not ruled out rescue just yet,” he told the families, as he thanked members of the joint services, medical personnel, regional officials, volunteers and civilian partners for their tireless efforts. ... The operation to retrieve the MV Barima is expected to provide rescuers with improved access to the wreck as authorities continue the painstaking search for those still unaccounted for.