Govt. says providing comprehensive support to families of MV Barima victims

Aug 17, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – One month after Guyana’s worst maritime disaster, the government said it is coordinating several measures aimed at providing comprehensive support to families who lost loved ones in the tragic capsizing of the MV Barima on 18^th July 18.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, during a podcast on Sunday, said psychosocial support is being provided through her ministry, which she said is an urgent necessity in the wake of the incident.

“It has been a devastating tragedy for those who were directly impacted, and by extension, our entire country. With a tragedy of this magnitude, the emotions are very difficult and challenging for anyone, much less families who have lost loved ones, and those who are still awaiting word of those who are not accounted for.”

Govt. says providing comprehensive support to families of MV Barima victims

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindyha Persaud

She confirmed that teams from her ministry, as well as the Ministry of Health, remain stationed across various affected regions. Some 75 officers were deployed the very next day following the mishap. They include social workers, counsellors and psychologists from the health ministry’s mental health unit and her ministry.

Toll-free hotlines were also established after the government recognised that persons would require support beyond face-to-face sessions.

“In addition to that, we ensured that hubs started to be set up. We have the command centres as the immediate central points, where counselling and engagements would have happened in Regions One, Two and Four,” the minister explained.

Hubs are now situated in eight regions, and Persaud said the measures are intended to provide long-term support. She also announced the launch of an online platform, “Embrace”, which will serve as the ministry’s national counselling platform.

“They need more than just someone who will speak to them for a couple hours, and those are things we are putting in place, because the need is beyond what we can imagine. Even in the evening, once this platform is set up, if people need to talk to someone, they should have that opportunity to talk to someone. I’ve reached out to the Red Cross to ask for their support, I’ve spoken to the UN to ask for their support. That support is building, and it has to be consistent, it has to be long-term.”

Meanwhile, a large section of the population has been calling for the removal of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar, who hold shared responsibility for the maritime sector.

Opposition MPs, presenting a united front, have bashed the government’s handling of the incident. Beyond repeated calls for the resignation of Ministers Edghill and Indar, opposition parties have also criticised the delayed decision to bring the sunken vessel to the surface, with Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul demanding that the government make public the bids submitted for the salvaging of the MV Barima.

On that fateful evening, 73 Guyanese, including passengers and crew members, perished after the 87-year-old vessel went down while making its way to Port Kaituma, Region One. On 4^th August , the government formally ended search and rescue operations.

To date, an estimated 30 individuals remain unaccounted for.

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comprehensive support, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, MV Barima, victims

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