"The boat cant over and gone" ...survivors recount horror of MV Barima capsizing

What this source establishes

Kaieteur News carries survivor testimony that contradicts the government's technical account. Leon Murray states the vessel was overloaded well beyond usual capacity with cargo including rations, chicken, pork and beef; that one engine cut out around 7 p.m. and the crew repaired it at sea rather than returning to Georgetown; and that a passenger who warned crew around 8 p.m. that the boat was taking on water was told it was normal. Murray says the sinking took under four minutes. Elena Moonsammy describes cargo boxes stacked at the rear, and Wayne Kitson describes the vessel tilting and failing to right itself.

Figures cited in this source

67 rescued; 116 passengers and 17 crew aboard

Key claims

• Survivor Leon Murray said the vessel sank in under four minutes: 'It ain't even tek four minutes and gone.'
• Murray boarded with eight family members; only he and his 27-year-old son Leron are known to have survived.
• Murray said his family members were tied off in hammocks and could not move when the ferry went down.
• Murray claimed the vessel was overloaded well beyond its usual capacity, packed with cargo including rations, chicken, pork and beef.
• Murray said one engine cut out around 7 p.m. and rather than turning back to Georgetown the crew stopped to make repairs at sea before continuing.
• Murray said a passenger warned crew members around 8 p.m. that the boat was taking in water and was told it was 'normal'.
• Murray said sailors and the captain did not announce difficulties.
• Public Works Minister Juan Edghill confirmed the vessel carried 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts and six inflatable life rafts.
• President Irfaan Ali, out of the country, said he was 'deeply distressed' and pledged 'no effort will be spared'.
• Survivor Elena Moonsammy said cargo boxes were stacked at the rear and a wave caused the boat to tilt sharply; she lost seven children.
• Wayne Kitson, 18, of Port Kaituma said the boat tilted and failed to right itself; he lost his partner and daughter.
• Safraz Matabheek said his wife and three children remain missing.
• Orman Cox said rescue teams reached his group roughly six hours after the ferry went down.

Quotations

• “It ain't even tek four minutes and gone”— Leon Murray, survivor
• “The people load, load, load the steamer. They overload the steamer... it was packed, packed, packed all downstairs.”— Leon Murray, survivor
• “Sailors and captain didn't announce difficulties. Dem didn't have time for that.”— Leon Murray, survivor
• “We were sleeping and dem (family) get tie off suh dem couldn't move”— Leon Murray, survivor
• “Me got to witness me family float.”— Leon Murray, survivor
• “This boat mek a wave come and this boat mek a one cant right away, that is how the water rush in”— Elena Moonsammy, survivor
• “We just hear this boat cant pun one side and it barely cant back suh and mek one lean over”— Wayne Kitson, 18, survivor from Port Kaituma
• “A lot of parents were looking for their babies because they went to sleep on the ground and their babies just wash away”— unnamed survivor
• “no effort will be spared”— Irfaan Ali, President

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