Transparency Institute of Guyana Urges Immediate Legal and State Protections for Children Orphaned in M.V. Barima Disaster

By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI) is lobbying for urgent state intervention and independent legal safeguards to protect the rights of children left orphaned by the fatal capsizing of the state-operated M.V. Barima.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nightly News, TIGI President Mike Singh emphasized that minors under the age of 18 cannot legally execute binding legal agreements independently and warned against forcing or rushing vulnerable families into compensation settlements ahead of a potential Commission of Inquiry.

TIGI Outlines Pro Bono Legal Panel & Estate Safeguards

Highlighting parallels to lessons learned following the 2023 Mahdia dormitory fire, Singh cautioned both minors and adult survivors to exercise extreme caution before signing any legal waivers or state agreements:

• Pro Bono Legal Mobilization: TIGI urged the assembly of a dedicated panel of prominent independent attorneys—including Roysdale Forde SC and Dr. Dexter Todd—to begin taking statements, interviewing affected relatives, and establishing strong legal standing for victims.
• Protection of Inheritance & Estates: Singh stressed that any class-action settlements or estate distributions meant for surviving children must be placed into legally structured trusts managed by court-appointed guardians or state trustees to prevent mismanagement.
• Proposal to Reopen St. Ann’s Orphanage: As a practical welfare measure, Singh proposed reopening the former Catholic-run St. Ann’s Orphanage on East Street, Georgetown. Under this framework, the state would provide operational funding, while qualified non-governmental organizations would manage day-to-day care and schooling for orphaned children.

                       [ ORPHAN LEGAL SAFEGUARDS & CARE MODEL ]
                                          │
       ┌──────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┐
       ▼                                                                     ▼
 [ Pro Bono Legal Panel ]                                            [ Care & Estate Protections ]
 - Assembled attorneys (Forde, Todd, et al.)                         - Mandatory state-supervised trust funds
 - Independent statements for COI proceedings                         - Proposal to reopen St. Ann's Orphanage
 - Protection against premature liability waivers                    - State-funded, NGO-managed operational care

Opposition Pledges Assistance and Cites State Human Rights Duties

Aligning with TIGI’s calls, Forward Guyana Member of Parliament and attorney Amanza Walton-Desir stated at a joint opposition press briefing that assembling a battery of lawyers to provide free legal advice is a vital step the collective opposition can support to ensure victims are represented in any upcoming class-action litigation.

Walton-Desir pointed to the tragic account of a young girl who lost her entire immediate family—her mother, father, sister, and brother—in the capsizing, emphasizing that the state has a fundamental human rights obligation to ensure these children do not fall through the administrative cracks.

“There is a little girl that has lost her mother, father, sister, and brother—how are we ensuring her welfare and that she goes to school?” MP Amanza Walton-Desir asked during the briefing. “A strong legal team has to be assembled to ensure that these families do not fall through the cracks.”

As the nation awaits formal terms of reference for an independent investigation into Guyana’s worst maritime disaster in recent memory, advocates across civil society continue to press for immediate legal representation and long-term welfare guarantees for all surviving minors.