Guyana Demands Accountability After Ferry Disaster Claims Estimated 100 Lives

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Guyanese government faces mounting pressure to explain the sinking of a state-operated ferry over the weekend, a disaster that claimed an estimated 100 lives. Officials have urged an increasingly frustrated public to await the conclusions of a formal investigation.

Authorities confirmed that 76 of the 179 passengers believed to have been aboard the vessel survived the nation’s worst maritime disaster on record. As of Wednesday, 53 bodies had been recovered, while divers continued searching for approximately 50 missing individuals.

Dozens of residents gathered in the northern town of Charity, clinging to hope that the remains of their missing relatives would be found.

“I know my baby is in that boat,” said Samantha Ramin, who lost two of her three children in the tragedy. Rescuers recovered the body of her young daughter, but her infant son remains missing.

“I know he is down there. I know he is down there,” she said. “I want to see them find my baby.”

The 87-year-old ferry, the MV Barima, departed the capital, Georgetown, on Saturday bound for Port Kaituma. It began taking on water and capsized in Atlantic waters off the Essequibo coast. While the ship’s manifest listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members, authorities believe as many as 179 people were on board.

A growing number of Guyanese are questioning the delay in rescue operations, with several survivors reporting they spent hours in the water before assistance arrived.

Survivors have also alleged the vessel was dangerously overloaded with passengers and cargo, including heavy-duty engines, vehicles, large fuel containers, all-terrain vehicles, and commercial freight.

Leon Murray, a survivor, told reporters the ferry appeared significantly more crowded than on the dozens of previous occasions he had traveled the route.

“The people load, load, load the steamer,” he said. “It was packed, packed, packed all downstairs.”

Murray and other survivors stated the ferry experienced engine trouble just hours after departure, but crews repaired it en route rather than returning to port. He also accused crew members of dismissing concerns that the vessel was taking on water, telling passengers the situation was normal.

Government officials have maintained the ferry was operating under its passenger and cargo capacity, but acknowledged the volume of conflicting accounts prevents a definitive conclusion at this stage.

Maritime Agency Director Stephen Thomas told The Associated Press that officials are awaiting a comprehensive investigation to determine details regarding the vessel’s loading and the role of supervisory personnel.

“We have nothing to hide,” Prime Minister Mark Phillips told reporters late Tuesday. “People will be held responsible based on the outcome, the results and the recommendations of that commission.”

He added: “Where negligence, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible will face the full force of the law. There will be no exceptions and no tolerance for actions that place innocent lives at risk.”

Police have detained the rescued captain and at least one other crew member who reportedly tested positive for marijuana.

Regarding the vessel’s age, the government stated it was awaiting the completion of a specialized pier at Port Kaituma to accommodate a new $12.7 million vessel acquired from India in recent months to replace the MV Barima. Construction of the pier is at an advanced stage.

The MV Barima underwent major repairs in dry dock in 2024 and was scheduled for additional maintenance in October.

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