By Travis Chase | HGP{ Nightly News|
OFF THE ESSEQUIBO COAST, GUYANA — Speaking directly from a search vessel at sea, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed declared that Public Works Minister Juan Edghill must resign or be stepped aside to allow for an unhindered, independent international investigation into the fatal capsizing of the M.V. Barima.
In an interview with HGP Nightly News, Mohamed—representing the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party—asserted that political accountability cannot be detached from what has become one of the worst maritime tragedies in Guyana’s history. He argued that while police ranks have detained lower-level employees, ultimate responsibility rests with the ministerial leadership overseeing the country’s transport infrastructure.
WIN Party Explores Parliamentary Motion of No Confidence
Mohamed disclosed that his party is evaluating all legislative avenues to hold the executive branch accountable, including tabling a formal motion of no confidence against Minister Edghill in the National Assembly:
- Demands for Resignation: Calling for Minister Edghill to step down immediately or be relieved of his portfolio by the President.
- Rejection of Scapegoating: Arguing that blaming ferry crew and wharf loading officers while ignoring ministerial oversight erodes public trust.
- Push for International Investigation: Insisting on an independent international Commission of Inquiry (COI) free from local political influence.
- Parliamentary Filings: Preparing no-confidence documentation and formal questioning to be submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
[ WIN PARLIAMENTARY ACTION STRATEGY ]
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┌───────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼
[ Demand for Executive Removal ] [ Legislative Mechanisms ]
- Calls for Minister Edghill's resignation - Motion of no confidence against Minister
- Demands independent international COI - Parliamentary questions on MARAD oversight
- Direct state accountability for 67+ lives - Audit of ministry maritime safety budgets
“Minister Edghill should have been in the lock ups,” Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed stated during his broadcast from the search grid. “You cannot hold the captain and the loading superintendent in custody while the minister who oversees the entire system walks around making excuses. Our party will take this matter straight to Parliament to ensure ministerial accountability is enforced.”
Mounting Political Pressure on Executive Branch
The declaration from the Opposition Leader marks a significant escalation in the political fallout surrounding the state-operated ferry’s sinking. With both the joint opposition factions and civil society groups demanding executive departures, pressure continues to mount on the administration as recovery teams wrap up salvage operations off the Essequibo Coast.
