Latest update September 3rd, 2026 10:25 AM
Opposition Leader rolls out HERO initiative
…demands $5M interim relief for MV Barima victims’ families
(Kaieteur News) – The Office of the Leader of the Opposition has officially launched the Helping, Empowering, and Rebuilding Opportunities (HERO) Initiative, establishing a structured advocacy and relief framework for families affected by the fatal sinking of the MV Barima.
As part of the unveiling, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed called on the government to immediately disburse an interim relief payment of G$5 million to every affected family.
“… we are calling on the Government of Guyana to quickly make available a $5 million interim payment to all families affected by this tragedy, to not only help ease their financial burden as many of them lost their breadwinners…” Mohamed said.
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed during the launch.
Speaking at the launch, Member of Parliament (MP) Odessa Primus stressed that administrative inquiries and legal processes should not leave families in financial hardship, urging the government to act swiftly on the interim relief proposal to uphold the dignity and well-being of the affected citizens.
“…this is perhaps the second biggest tragedy, in number of persons lost, that are Guyanese… Sometimes you do not want to say things, but you are forced to say it, and it leads one to wonder whether the government does not value or have any respect for our Indigenous brothers and sisters. And the answer for me is no, based on the actions that they have chosen to take. And the thing is, what do we do? Do we sit and take it? Or do we stand up and fight for what is right?… We are calling on the government again to float the boat,” Primus said.
The MV Barima, an 87-year-old state-operated vessel, capsized on the evening of 18th July off the coast of Essequibo, leaving 73 persons dead, 76 rescued, and at least 30 others missing. The ferry was on a scheduled voyage from Georgetown to Port Kaituma in Region One when it encountered trouble and sank near the Pomeroon coast.
The disaster resulted in significant loss of life and sparked widespread public outcry over vessel maintenance standards, manifest accuracy, and regulatory oversight across the nation’s water transport network.
Under the HERO Initiative, the Opposition Leader, by way of a statement, outlined several immediate priorities aimed at assisting survivors and grieving relatives, including those residing in Region One (Barima-Waini), Georgetown, and elsewhere.
Chief among these is the call for an initial, non-compensatory G$5 million emergency payout, intended to help families meet immediate living expenses and access medical or psychological support without delay.
Several prominent attorneys — including Damien DaSilva, Christopher Ram, Nigel Hughes, Siand Dhurjon, and Roysdale Forde SC, among others — have agreed to provide their services pro bono to affected families who wish to pursue them.
The gathering of families affected by the tragedy at the launch.
The statement noted that psychologists are also offering their services free of charge: “Dr. Telford Layne, along with other psychologists who prefer to be unnamed, [have] all contacted us to give of their services free of charge. They have all committed to work with the survivors, and family members of the deceased and those still missing from the MV Barima tragedy.”
The statement continued: “The constant cry from all families is that they have received no proper support from the government, who has continued to issue promises but have fulfilled none of the commitments they made.”
The initiative also calls for independent legal guidance to ensure affected families are fully informed of their rights before signing any documentation or state-issued releases.
The We Investment in Nationhood (WIN) Members of Parliament Natasha Singh-Lewis, Dawn Hastings, and Nandranie Persaud, present at the launch, emphasised that acceptance of emergency financial support should not prejudice or limit any family’s right to pursue full legal remedies or formal state settlements as the Commission of Inquiry progresses.
The initiative further demands accelerated and transparent salvage operations to recover the vessel and preserve crucial forensic evidence.
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