HGP Nightly News – The Amerindian Peoples Association is calling for Public Works Minister Juan Edghill’s removal and an independent review of Guyana’s river and sea transportation system, arguing that longstanding complaints from North-West passengers were ignored before the MV Barima tragedy.
In a statement, the APA said travellers had complained for years about the condition of ferries serving the North-West District, the alleged conduct of some crew members and what passengers considered unsafe travelling conditions.
Based on those reports, the organisation described the capsizing as “a tragedy waiting to happen.”
That conclusion represents the APA’s position. Investigators have not established that the ferry’s physical condition, crew conduct or any particular safety failure caused it to capsize.
The APA extended condolences to families who lost relatives and expressed support for survivors and those awaiting information about missing loved ones. It also thanked the state agencies, private operators, volunteers and other stakeholders involved in the search-and-rescue operation.
The organisation said the disaster had exposed the transportation disadvantages facing Indigenous and other hinterland residents.
Although people of different backgrounds live in Region One, the APA noted that much of the population is Indigenous. Many residents depend on ferry transportation because travelling by air or other means is considerably more expensive.
They use the service to reach medical care, schools and businesses, visit relatives and travel for work or vacation.
“Safe transportation is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right that every person in Guyana deserves,” the organisation said.
The APA argued that residents should not be expected to accept ageing vessels, irregular service or weak safety controls simply because they live far from the coastland.
It pointed to the inaccurate MV Barima passenger manifest as evidence of poor management and accountability.
Authorities initially relied on a manifest listing 116 passengers and 17 crew members. They later discovered that dozens of survivors were not recorded, leaving the government unable to determine exactly how many people had been aboard.
The APA questioned who was responsible for supervising boarding, loading, maintenance and the ferry’s overall operation. It also asked why alleged irregularities were not detected before the vessel departed Georgetown.
The organisation referred to possible “corrupt practices in overloading,” but the government has not established that the ferry exceeded its licensed passenger or cargo capacity. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill initially denied overloading and said the cargo records were being rechecked after the passenger-list discrepancies emerged.
The APA also questioned whether the MV Barima was seaworthy.
Edghill has maintained that no technical report declared the ferry unfit for service. He said it was operating within its maintenance schedule, having last been dry-docked in 2024, and was due for another planned docking later in 2026.
The vessel’s condition and any outstanding repairs remain matters for the formal investigation.
The APA said that investigation must go beyond identifying the immediate cause of the capsizing. It wants a broader examination of the structural weaknesses that may place passengers at risk throughout Guyana’s water-transportation network.
Among the areas it wants reviewed are vessel maintenance, safety standards, licensing, inspections, crew training and certification, passenger-capacity enforcement, weather monitoring and emergency preparedness.
Search-and-rescue capabilities, communication systems and regulatory oversight should also be assessed, the organisation said.
The APA called for expert investigators who are independent of the agencies under scrutiny. It said the inquiry must be conducted swiftly, transparently and with sufficient authority to obtain the records needed to establish what happened.
It also wants a similar examination of other river and sea services across Guyana, arguing that the problems exposed by the MV Barima disaster may not be confined to one vessel or route.
Indigenous and riverine communities must be consulted during that process, the APA said. Residents who regularly use the services understand the practical dangers and shortcomings and should help shape any reforms.
The organisation called for sustained investment in modern vessels, wharves, communications and emergency-response systems. It also wants stricter inspections, stronger regulatory enforcement and mandatory safety equipment that is accessible and routinely checked.
Its demand for Edghill’s removal is based on his ministerial responsibility for the Transport and Harbours Department and the fact that the disaster occurred under his watch. The APA did not present evidence that he personally caused the capsizing.
Removing the minister would therefore be a political and administrative decision, not a finding of legal culpability.
The APA said the government’s response must extend beyond condolences and short-term corrective action. It warned that when disasters fail to produce lasting reform, the conditions for another tragedy remain.
“The loss of lives aboard the MV Barima must become a turning point,” the organisation said, pledging to assist affected families wherever possible.
