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“My life is in God’s hands” …Embattled Edghill says in defying calls for him to resign
(Kaieteur News) – “My life is in God’s hands and that’s not today.” These were the words of Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill moments after exiting the dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) with a smirk on his face, where the National Assembly convened in the midst of a heated protest by opposition members of parliament (MPs).
Opposition parties, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN ), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Vigilant Political Action Committee (V-PAC) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) joined in demanding that the Bishop as well as Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar tender their resignations over the MV Barima tragedy where 73 persons drowned on the 87-year-old vessel. Some 75 persons were rescued while dozens more are still missing as the sunken vessel remains grounded on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, about nine miles off the Essequibo Coast.
Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill
The smiling minister upon his exit from the ACCC was greeted by party supporters as he walked towards his Prado. When asked his views on the protest action by the opposition members, Edghill insisted, “I have repeatedly said I will speak about this matter at the appropriate time.”
Stakeholders began calling for Edghill to resign hours after the tragedy as reports surfaced of the vessel being overloaded with cargo and passengers.
In an interview with Kaieteur News, following Monday’s sitting, MP Ganesh Mahipaul said government clearly displayed its “iron fist” method of governance by pushing its agenda despite the protest, with no regard for the victims and family members of the tragedy.
“They have no interest in paying tribute properly to the 100 plus people that are dead. They have no interest in paying tribute to the fact that those families are suffering. I don’t dispute the fact that at some point our nation will have to heal and move forward but it was inappropriate for this to be a day in the National Assembly ordinarily just to move and pass bills and the request for monies,” he argued.
The MP said he anticipated a frank discussion on the capsizing of the vessel as stories from survivors indicate overloading and no respect for systems. As such, Mahipaul said Edghill should not have shown his face to the house.
According to him, “We strongly believe he must be held responsible for this…because the incomplete stelling at Port Kaituma which was awarded in a contract in 2022 among several other issues surrounding transportation here in Guyana. Edghill has displayed that he is not fit for that ministry.”
Mahipaul believes that it would have been “unfair” and “inhumane” to allow a normal sitting to be held without any remorse or respect for the grieving families and victims of the incidents.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Mark Phillips described the opposition-led protest as “irresponsible, a reckless behaviour by the opposition, childish, immature.”
When asked for his views on the calls by opposition MPs for the ministers to step down, pending the outcome of the investigation so as to avoid any prejudices, the PM said, “No, no, no, that’s not what they were calling for. They disrupted the house today. Regardless of their chants they disrupted the house.”
When asked if he believes the ministers remaining in office can influence the investigation in any way, he responded, “No they will not influence the investigation because this is an independent, internationally selected people who will be on this commission of inquiry. Everybody is outside of Guyana…this is not a departmental investigation that was ordered by the minister. This is the president using the Commission of Inquiry Act and order an independent investigation that is staffed by internationally recognised and respected experts.”
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