Major discrepancies found on MV Barima manifest

What this source establishes

Kaieteur News reports Minister Juan Edghill's evening press conference of 19 July on the manifest failure. Edghill said only 35 of the 67 rescued appeared on the official manifest, that 116 were accounted for via the Online Booking System (100) and Mobile Money Guyana (16), and that the captain and first engineer tested positive for cannabis. Edghill said he personally audited the cargo manifest line by line and arrived at an early figure of 260 tons. He attributes the cause to ground-level operational 'mischief' rather than to regulatory failure.

Figures cited in this source

116 booked (100 online + 16 MMG); 67 rescued (36 adults, 15 females, 16 children — 9 girls, 7 boys); only 35 of 67 survivors on manifest; 2 bodies recovered, both female; cargo audit figure of 260

Key claims

• Only 35 of the 67 rescued persons appeared on the official manifest — Min. Juan Edghill
• 116 people were accounted for through booking systems: 100 via Online Booking System, 16 via Mobile Money Guyana (MMG)
• The captain and the first engineer both tested positive for cannabis in post-incident medical testing
• Captain, a sailor and the first engineer are in police custody at Anna Regina; the mate's drug panel results differed
• Edghill personally summoned the superintendent and revenue clerk to audit the cargo manifest line by line; an early-day figure of 260 emerged
• Edghill attributes the disaster to operational breaches at ground level rather than regulatory failure, since T&HD is service provider and MARAD strictly regulator
• Captain Thomas: a vessel with positive stability returns upright even if pushed 20 degrees; failure to right points to human operational error in treacherous conditions
• Edghill characterised the manifest failure in one word: 'mischief'
• Investigation team comprises GPF, GDF, MARAD and independent technical maritime experts

Quotations

• “One word... we can't excuse it: mischief. Mischief. And that's why I'm outraged.”— Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works
• “We are not taking anything for granted by anybody's word. We are going back through everything with a fine-tooth comb.”— Juan Edghill
• “A captain, who may be compromised by whatever, would not be able to look at what is happening with the waves”— Capt. Stephen Thomas, MARAD

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