President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Tuesday evening told a grieving nation that while questions must be answered in the wake of the MV Barima tragedy, the immediate focus must remain on mourning, comforting affected families and supporting the ongoing rescue and recovery mission.
The Head of State was speaking during a national prayer and remembrance service at Charity, Region Two, where recovered bodies from the tragedy have been brought as families continue to wait for answers.
“This is not an easy day in this nation’s history, and it’s not an easy day under my presidency. It is a very difficult time,” President Ali said.
The President said he considered it necessary to remain with the affected families and responders, noting that the mission remains both a rescue and recovery operation. He thanked the men and women in uniform, private sector partners, regional officials and international partners from French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil for joining the national response.
Ali said he had listened to the stories of families who lost loved ones and to survivors of the tragedy, describing those aboard the vessel as “simple people living simple lives,” many of whom were travelling to provide for their families when disaster struck.
He also spoke about witnessing the difficult work of recovery teams, saying he saw bodies being handled with dignity and care.
“I stood there and watched every single body up to now being recovered. I saw them lift gently, calling on each other to be careful, to be gentle,” the President said.
The President said Charity has now become deeply connected to the tragedy, describing the community as the nerve centre of the rescue and recovery efforts.
“Charity has become forever woven into the story of our nation’s sorrow, because this is where the grieving people have rallied to recover their own,” Ali said.
In an emotional address, the Head of State said the disaster had inflicted a “mortal wound” on the country, taking laughter from homes and leaving families with pain that words cannot fully capture.
He offered special prayers for the survivors, saying many will carry physical, emotional and psychological scars from the tragedy. He urged everyone involved in the response, including survivors, relatives, boat operators and community members, not to shy away from mental health support.
The President also honoured the Joint Services, fisherfolk, private aircraft operators, doctors, nurses, volunteers, regional officials, public servants and others who responded in the aftermath of the sinking, saying their courage became “the difference between life and death.”
He further thanked Guyana’s international partners, including French Guiana, CARICOM, Brazil and other friendly states, saying their support showed that Guyana does not stand alone in its grief.
While acknowledging that there will be a time for accountability, Ali said the moment must first be one of compassion and unity.
“There will come a time for questions, for truth to rise, for justice to speak. But today is not that day. Today we mourn. Today we comfort,” the President said.
Speaking directly to grieving families, Ali assured them that the Government and country stand with them.
“Your grief is our nation’s grief. Your tears are our nation’s tears,” he said. “We cannot remove your pain, nor can we restore what has been taken from you. But I want you to know this with absolute certainty. We stand with you.”
The President closed by calling on Guyanese to remain resilient, united and prayerful as the country mourns those who died and supports those still searching for loved ones.
“With God before us, and each other besides us, and hope within us, we shall rise together as one nation under God, we shall overcome,” Ali said.
