Latest update August 16th, 2026 10:20 AM
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- Four more oil discoveries in Guyana likely to go “above and beyond what we thought were opportunities” – Exxon CEO
- Disgraceful for VP Jagdeo, Min. Bharrat to allow citizens to rely on Exxon for updates on recovery of all investments – Christopher Ram
- Linden chef killed in Soesdyke-Linden accident
- Rapid expansion in Guyana could add 307MW daily by 2030 – GPL
- Powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake kills at least 47 in Indonesia
We must insist on facts before fury, evidence before accusation, and truth before theatrics
Dear Editor,
GHK Lall’s column of August 12, 2026, concerning the MV Barima is less a serious contribution to the national conversation than a catalogue of assertions and insinuations presented as facts. A daily columnist should be especially careful to distinguish between what is known, what has been said, and what he himself has inferred.
He writes that Guyanese were first told that the Barima was “unsalvageable.” The obvious question is: who told Guyanese that? Where was this said, and by whom?
It was never stated that the vessel was unsalvageable. What was explained was that raising or floating the vessel would be difficult because of the hazards involved, including poor underwater visibility, tidal conditions and the other technical and environmental challenges confronting any salvage operation.
“Difficult” does not mean “impossible.” Yet Mr. Lall converts the former into the latter and then constructs an entire argument on that misrepresentation.
He goes on to claim that it was subsequently said that raising the vessel would be costly.” Again, who said this? Was this an official position? Or is Mr. Lall simply creating another step in a narrative that makes his political argument more dramatic?
The irony is that the government has agreed that the vessel should be raised. So, what exactly is Mr. Lall railing against? He demands that the vessel be raised as though the government has refused to do so, when the very action he demands has already been accepted as the course to be pursued.
Mr. Lall’s rhetoric becomes even more troubling when he declares that the Barima tragedy “was a crime” and suggests that it forms part of some broader PPP government “dodge, crime-in-waiting, a skim and a scam,” followed by a “clumsy coverup.” Those are extraordinary allegations. They require extraordinary evidence.
There is no need for a demand that the Barima be raised. A decision has been taken to do so. But let us also insist on something from commentators. Let us insist on facts before fury, evidence before accusation, and truth before theatrics.
Yours faithfully,
Roopnauth Hardyal
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