MV Barima tragedy -would have handled differently

Oct 07, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

(Kaieteur News) – Things could have been different. I would have made allowance. But when it was the same stink and dutty story with the MV Barima tragedy, there was only one road left.

In the late hours of that fateful Saturday night of July, those early hours of Sunday morning, the little that was known amounted to this. The MV Barima was in serious problem, an unknown number of Guyanese was in dire peril. The dead had no time to welcome death, so swift was its coming, with some still groggy from sleep. Those who were about to die were clutching at foam and air for traction, unwilling to believe, to accept, that their time had come. The boat itself was in its death rattle, its last death roll. Then, that was it, other than survivors floating far and farther away.

From those circumstances, in those first hours, this much could be gathered. A tragedy of enormous magnitude. The people with the best information, with most of the still sketchy details on Sunday morning were officers of the government. Guyanese were living in dread. They wanted to know. Yet, that was when the old and tired, the tried and the trashy, took over. Lockdown of information. Lashing out at questioners. Thus, the standard was set. An ancient one that is the hallmark of the PPP Govt. The captain that should have been on the bridge of the ship of state was MIA. So, the MV Barima spun its path to the bottom of the sea. And official spinning began to gain a full chimney of smoke.

This was the crucial point, that most sensitive of moments. The road not traveled, the path not taken, that could have made all the difference. Someone in the PPP Govt. had to find that inner light called humanity and decency. Stepped forward, and said three simple words: I am responsible. I take responsibility. I offer myself. But no! the PPP doesn’t know about that degree of integrity, that type of human dignity. It opted for scoring points, bent on controlling damage, limiting releases. It was about somebody standing humbly before Guyanese, and saying contritely: I failed. On my head. For one dead, I could have looked away. But not for a hundred. I believe it would have been the same reaction from the government, if it were 1000 dead.

The president had to lead. The ministers then had to follow. The cabinet couldn’t have closeted itself and pretended (not my portfolio). A hundred dead is everyone’s portfolio. I make it mine. The president, or a minister, could have said humbly and sincerely, I am sorry. I let down the dead by choice of priorities. I lost them due to misplaced policies. I hurt them through practices that have no place in honest governance. But No! the character of leadership that should have been, never was present.

If they had taken responsibility, offered honest apology, how could I have then said: I damn you, and still condemned them all? Maybe all Guyana would have denounced them, but due to that presidential and ministerial (and group) admission, I couldn’t and would not have done so. But then resistance and coverup (noise) and Commission of Inquiry and floating the sunk boat all took on more than a hint of taint. Then the road already stretching in front had to be walked, come what may. Now I discern the shady lengthening and slicksters up to their usual tricks. I see a land blighted by deformed men and women, and a population bound to go along to get along. To stay secure. To be part of the silence that obscures, is safe.

I want to stand for leaders. But when they stand for nothing but the frothy and the slippery, what would that say about me, if I do? When 100 died how they did, then the cons ended. When they continued more strongly, there was no option left. But to stand and denounce them all. For how they destroy Guyanese.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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GHK Lall, MV Barima, PPP, tragedy

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