The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) is calling for a comprehensive, independent and transparent review of the MV Barima tragedy, while urging the removal of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, under whose ministry the Transport and Harbours Department falls.
In a statement issued Monday, the APA extended condolences to families who lost loved ones following the tragic sinking of the MV Barima off the Guyana seacoast, in the vicinity of the Pomeroon River, on Saturday night. The organisation also expressed sympathy for survivors and families still awaiting answers.
The APA said the tragedy has again exposed the risks faced by Indigenous Peoples and other hinterland residents who depend heavily on ferries and other river and sea transportation to travel between the North-West District and Georgetown.
According to the organisation, passengers using the North-West ferries have, for years, complained about the poor state of vessels, the conduct of some crew members and unsafe conditions.
“Based on those reports, Saturday’s tragedy was one waiting to happen,” the APA said.
The Association noted that while the North-West is home to Guyanese of all ethnicities, the majority of the population is Indigenous. It said many residents use ferries because they are the most affordable option, despite travelling for medical, business, education and vacation purposes.
“The tragedy is a devastating reminder of the risks and inequities that Indigenous Peoples and other hinterland residents face,” the APA said, adding that the state has a responsibility to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation.
The APA also raised concerns over reports that the manifest did not match the identities of some rescued passengers, saying this points to poor management and accountability in the operation of vessels serving the North-West District.
It questioned who is responsible for overseeing vessel operations, detecting overloading, ensuring regular maintenance and preventing aged or unsafe vessels from plying dangerous routes.
The organisation said any review of the tragedy must go beyond identifying the immediate cause of the sinking and must examine wider structural weaknesses in Guyana’s maritime transport system.
The APA said those areas should include vessel safety standards, maintenance regimes, licensing and inspection procedures, crew training and certification, passenger capacity enforcement, emergency preparedness, weather monitoring, search-and-rescue capabilities, communication systems and regulatory oversight.
It also stressed that Indigenous and riverain communities must be meaningfully consulted, since they rely on these services daily and understand the dangers and shortcomings of the current system.
The APA said the loss of lives aboard the MV Barima must become a turning point for major improvements in public safety and maritime regulation.
“Every tragedy that fails to produce meaningful reform increases the likelihood of another,” the organisation warned.
The Association is calling for sustained investment in safe, reliable and modern river and sea transportation facilities, stronger enforcement of maritime regulations, routine inspections of passenger vessels, improved emergency response mechanisms, mandatory safety equipment and greater accountability across agencies responsible for protecting travellers.
The APA further urged that the ongoing investigation be conducted with speed, transparency and integrity, recommending the use of expert and independent investigators.
“We call for the removal of the Minister of Public Works, under whose purview the Transport and Harbour Department falls, and under whose watch this tragedy occurred,” the APA said.
The organisation said families of those who died, survivors and the wider public deserve clear answers about what occurred, whether safety protocols were followed and what corrective actions will be taken to prevent a similar tragedy.
The APA said it stands ready to assist those affected, while declaring that safe transportation is not a privilege, but a fundamental right every person in Guyana deserves, whether travelling by road, air or river.
