Search and recovery operations for the MV Barima tragedy have officially concluded, the Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed.
In response to a request for an update, the Office of the Prime Minister said while active search and recovery efforts have ended, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remains operational.
“The search and recovery operations have concluded. However, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remains operational,” the Office of the Prime Minister stated.
Officials also confirmed that there has been no change in the status of the identification of the recovered bodies.
Authorities had previously reported that 73 bodies were recovered following the sinking of the MV Barima, while several persons remained missing. The disaster has been described as Guyana’s worst maritime tragedy.
The 87-year-old vessel capsized on July 18, 2026, approximately 9.3 nautical miles off Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast, while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
The tragedy has since led to criminal charges against three Transport and Harbours Department employees.
The accused are Kevin Price, called “KP,” a 40-year-old captain of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara; Rondell Dwayne Roberts, a 42-year-old chief mate of Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara; and Delon Granderson, a 33-year-old goods superintendent of Fellowship, West Coast Demerara.
The three men were jointly charged with murder following legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. They first appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on July 28, where they were not required to plead to the indictable charge and were remanded to prison.
Their matter was later transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court. The case has since been adjourned to September 7 to allow the prosecution additional time to complete disclosure of evidence to the defence.
The Government has also established a five-member Commission of Inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding the disaster, including the events leading up to the sinking, regulatory oversight, the emergency response and recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy.
