By Antonio Dey |HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The political fallout surrounding the M.V. Barima capsizing intensified further on Tuesday evening following a heated media briefing, during which Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips strongly rejected mounting public demands for the resignation of Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill.
As the national death toll continues to rise and questions regarding maritime safety regulations multiply, the Prime Minister took umbrage at journalists pressing for executive accountability. Intercepting a question directly posed to Minister Edghill regarding whether calls for his resignation were justified, Prime Minister Phillips dismissed the demands as politically motivated chatter.
“Minister Edghill was appointed by the President of Guyana, and that decision lies strictly with the President,” Prime Minister Phillips asserted during the press briefing. “We have heard the noise out there, and I want to congratulate you for contributing to that noise. Our primary focus right now remains on the search, rescue, and recovery operation.”
The Political Disconnect: Executive Defense vs. Opposition Demands
While acknowledging that opposition figures led by Azruddin Mohamed have assisted in field recovery operations, the Prime Minister criticized political critics for “politicizing” a national tragedy.
However, during a joint opposition press conference held on Wednesday morning, Leader of the Forward Guyana movement Amanza Walton-Desir hit back forcefully against the Prime Minister’s remarks. Walton-Desir—a trained attorney holding a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Maritime Law—argued that the administration’s defensive posture demonstrates why an international, impartial Commission of Inquiry (COI) is vital to restoring public trust.
[ DIVERGING VIEWS ON DISASTER ACCOUNTABILITY ]
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[ Executive Branch Position ] [ Joint Opposition Position ]
- PM Phillips cites presidential prerogative - Demands independent international COI
- Labels resignation demands as "political noise" - Cites lack of trust in state-led probe
- Reaffirms priority on active search & recovery - Calls for Edghill's immediate recusal
Walton-Desir Demands International Experts for Commission of Inquiry
Walton-Desir emphasized that because potential criminal liability and systemic state negligence are at play, the government cannot credibly audit its own operations.
| Investigative Area | Opposition Requirement (Walton-Desir) | Government Action to Date |
| Inquiry Leadership | Independent international maritime experts. | Multi-agency probe led by local police & MARAD. |
| Ministerial Oversight | Immediate resignation/recusal of Minister Edghill. | Minister retains office; defended by Prime Minister. |
| Legal Compliance | Adherence to International Maritime Law (SOLAS/IMO). | Suspension of lower-level stelling loading staff. |
| Public Transparency | Clear criteria for impartiality and evidence sharing. | Cautionary warnings against online misinformation. |
“I believe it is time we draw expertise from the international community to give Guyanese some sense of hope,” Walton-Desir stated firmly during the briefing. “We do not trust this government, and because there may be criminal proceedings flowing out of this disaster, you must have institutional arrangements that understand what has to happen. Prime Minister Phillips should not be speaking on these matters to score political points—he needs to sit down and be quiet.”
As the administration maintains its stance against ministerial changes, the joint opposition confirmed it will continue pushing for a formal, legally binding Commission of Inquiry framework to ensure that victims’ families receive complete transparency regarding the M.V. Barima disaster.
