By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Public pressure on the Government of Guyana reached a new peak on Wednesday as members, indigenous leaders, and supporters of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) staged a peaceful picket directly outside the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.
Demonstrators demanded full executive accountability for the fatal capsizing of the state-operated M.V. Barima, insisting that criminal charges against lower-level crew members do not absolve political leaders of responsibility for one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the nation’s history.
APA Demands Ministerial Resignations and Institutional Overhaul
Led by APA Executive Director Jean La Rose, the protest highlighted that the disaster heavily impacted riverine and indigenous communities in Region One (Barima-Waini). Protesters held placards calling for systemic reforms across Guyana’s public transit network and the immediate removal of key cabinet members:
- Resignation of Public Works Ministers: Demonstrators, including activist Andrew Campbell, renewed calls for the resignation of Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill and Minister Deodat Indar. They argued that ultimate liability rests with the ministry overseeing the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD).
- Systemic Neglect and Weak Regulation: Demonstrator Diana Lopez noted that the M.V. Barima tragedy was the result of years of inadequate regulatory oversight, deferred vessel maintenance, and weak safety enforcement on riverine routes.
- Criticism of Unilateral COI Appointments: APA Executive Director Jean La Rose expressed disappointment that civil society organizations and indigenous bodies were not consulted in drafting the Terms of Reference or selecting panel members for the international Commission of Inquiry (COI) established by President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
[ APA DEMANDS & INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ]
│
┌─────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼
[ Executive Accountability ] [ Transportation Reform ]
- Resignation of Minister Juan Edghill - Comprehensive audit of river & sea transit
- Resignation of Minister Deodat Indar - Complete overhaul of T&HD vessel safety protocols
- Scrutiny beyond 72 murder counts against crew - Salvage of M.V. Barima to recover remaining victims
“We feel strongly about the lives lost—they should never have been lost in the first place,” APA Executive Director Jean La Rose stated on the picket line. “There should have been better systems and better transportation. We expected that civil society would have been consulted in constituting the Commission of Inquiry. A unilateral approach does not bolster confidence among the wider citizenry.”
Diminishing Hopes for Recovery
The demonstration took place against the backdrop of fading hopes for recovering additional victims. While 76 passengers survived the capsizing, over 70 deaths have been confirmed, and dozens remain unaccounted for.
With government officials indicating that the 87-year-old vessel may remain on the Essequibo seabed due to structural degradation and severe underwater currents, the APA and victim advocacy groups maintain that abandoning the wreck leaves grieving families without closure or justice.
