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MV Barima Disaster… Brazil, T&T come to Guyana’s rescue
…survivor count remains at 76
…as foreign forces join massive recovery mission
By Khadidja Ba
(Kaieteur News) – The death toll from the devastating capsizing of the MV Barima ferry has climbed to 65, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday,22nd July, 2026, as international search teams joined an intensifying multi-national recovery effort.
Five additional bodies were recovered earlier Wednesday, three of them in the hours immediately preceding the briefing. Of the 65 victims recovered since search operations began, 44 have been positively identified by relatives, and 23 have already been released to their families for burial rites, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and regional authorities. The number of rescued passengers and crew remains unchanged at 76.
The local and French divers at the wreckage site.
Search, rescue, and recovery operations have intensified with the arrival of maritime assets and personnel from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Brazilian Navy. Nineteen vessels and three aircraft are now actively engaged at the crash site, supported by specialised diving teams. Meanwhile, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) have deployed smaller vessels further inland to search shoreline areas and vegetation. Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, along with local fishermen and private boat owners, is also assisting.
Technical teams are finalising plans to reposition the capsized vessel to give divers safer access to its interior. “The current recovery plan involves repositioning the vessel before installing maritime salvage airbags around the wreckage to restore buoyancy,” Phillips said. “Once afloat, the vessel will be towed closer to the shoreline to facilitate further search and recovery operations.”
President Irfaan Ali has declared three days of national mourning in honour of the victims, during which all national flags will fly at half-mast. Wednesday,22nd July, was designated a National Day of Prayer, with the public invited to gather at the Kingston Seawall for a national service of reflection. Further memorial services are scheduled for Port Kaituma on Thursday,23rd July, and Mabaruma on Friday,24th July. During one of the Kingston Seawall observances, three people were arrested for “unlawful protesting.”
Government and military officials faced sharp questioning over operational readiness, safety equipment accessibility, and passenger accountability.
A body being offloaded at the Charity waterfront.
Asked why only one GDF helicopter was deployed in the initial hours of the response, GDF officials said the remaining two helicopters in the fleet were grounded for routine maintenance while awaiting imported spare parts. Both Dornier aircraft acquired from India, along with GDF surveillance drones, are currently operational and actively supporting coastal search efforts.
Officials also faced questions over reports that victims were recovered without life jackets, despite the vessel carrying safety equipment. Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill clarified that the ferry carried 250 life jackets, six inflatable rafts, and two rigid rafts. Safety regulations do not require passengers on large ferries to wear life jackets continuously unless severe weather or imminent danger arises, he said, adding that the jackets were stored in accessible, unlocked overhead racks — and that floating, plastic-wrapped life jackets had actually helped rescuers pinpoint the submerged vessel. Authorities also confirmed that several survivors and deceased individuals were not listed on the official passenger manifest, and reconciliation efforts are ongoing.
Prime Minister Phillips confirmed the government intends to establish an independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) once recovery efforts conclude. The COI will determine liability, investigate potential negligence, and issue recommendations on formal compensation.
“The focus now is not on compensation; it is on recovering bodies and financing funeral rites and burials,” Phillips stressed, noting that immediate state assistance to grieving families constitutes emergency relief rather than a formal settlement.
Asked about calls from joint opposition members for the resignation of Minister Edghill — whose ministry oversees the Transport and Harbours Department — Phillips maintained that Edghill remains central to both the ongoing response and the coming inquiry. Responding directly to questions about personal responsibility, Edghill said: “I am discharging a responsibility that, by oath, I took to fulfill. And at this time, I am fulfilling that response.”
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To the editor, as a concerned citizen. After all the News and headlines and interviews are Over.
A question to you all NEWS OUTLETS SOURCES.
Who is really responsible for this tragic accident.????
Who is the owner of the ferry, ???the sitting government
Who is responsible for maritime transport??
The sitting government.
Who is responsible for the safety standards??
The sitting government.
Who is responsible to reinforce our safety standards and laws??
The sitting government.
Who needs to see all maritime transport vessels insured.??
The sitting government.
Who gives the authority to sail safely ??
The sitting government.
So readers who is really responsible for this tragic loss of our Guyanese men, women and their children where our nation and Our people in this moment are hurting and feeling the pain that those families going through while mourning their loss in this tragedy.
Could this have been avoidable. YES
Why??? If our sitting government had inforced our safety standards with its follow up to all maritime transport vessels leaving our docks.
We only have to look at our CARICOM partners to see their
Safety standards in the Caribbean and accept our failure in implementing these high standards.here.
It seems that the safety of our people in our nation is taken very lightly, as can be seen in such a tragic Tragedy that took more than a hundred lives.
And our sitting government with excuses and more excuses. And Not accepting their responsibility is really concerning for our Democracy.
Our questions ⁉️ ⁉️ ❓ Can we as a GUYANESE citizens trust this sitting government seeing what is happening before OUR EYES with this tragic situation.And not forgetting the other even of FIRE 🔥 where we lost Twenty beautiful children and the accountability in question again with this sitting government.
How can we as citizens respect and trust this sitting government???? You all have to ask yourselves these soul searching questions my fellow Guyanese
Because our children grandchildren and our future generations will ask, you did you do enough to help stop there BLANTANT irresponsibility and actions
Father, and Grandfather??????💙🌊🌊