MV Barima team suspended as probe moves ahead

What this source establishes

News Room Guyana documents the first accountability action after the sinking, the suspension of the entire team responsible for loading, dispatch and overall management of the vessel, and Edghill's stated rationale that removing them prevents tampering with evidence. It confirms police had already extracted CCTV footage from the Kingston Goods Wharf. The report states that because only 35 of the 67 rescued appeared on the passenger list, authorities no longer knew how many people were aboard. It gives cargo figures of 268 tonnes against a licensed 284 tonnes, while noting those are now in question.

Figures cited in this source

67 rescued, 2 confirmed dead; 116 passengers and 17 crew on manifest, only 35 of 67 rescued listed

Key claims

• The team responsible for the loading, dispatch and overall management of MV Barima has been suspended as authorities probe the tragedy.
• Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said in a Facebook post the move aims to guarantee the absolute integrity of the upcoming inquiry and prevent tampering with evidence.
• Video footage from the Kingston Goods Wharf, the point of departure, has already been extracted by the Guyana Police Force for comprehensive review.
• The ferry capsized about seven miles offshore near the mouth of the Pomeroon River.
• The number of rescued remains at 67 while two people have been confirmed dead.
• Only 35 of the 67 rescued were listed on the passenger manifest, meaning 32 survivors were never officially recorded as passengers before the vessel left Georgetown.
• The vessel's cargo manifest showed it was carrying 268 tonnes of cargo, below its licensed capacity of 284 tonnes, but that is now under question.
• The discovery means authorities no longer know how many people were actually aboard the ferry when it capsized.

Quotations

• “As part of the soon-to-come investigation, video footage from the Kingston Goods Wharf—the point of departure for the MV Barima—has already been extracted by the Guyana Police Force for a comprehensive review.”— Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works

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