Amerindian People's Association wants swift, transparent and complete probe of ferry tragedy; Calls for Edghill's removal

What this source establishes

News Source Guyana sets out the Amerindian Peoples Association's full position on the disaster. The APA calls not merely for a probe of this sinking but for a parallel review of Guyana's entire river and sea transportation system, with meaningful consultation with the Indigenous and riverain communities that use it daily, and for Minister Edghill's removal. The APA states that passengers on the North-West ferries have complained for years about vessel condition, crew behaviour and unsafe conditions, and that the tragedy 'may have been one waiting to happen'.

Key claims

• The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) joined calls for Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill to be removed from office.
• The APA said that for years passengers on the North-West ferries have complained of the deplorable state of the vessels, the behaviour of some crew members and generally unsafe conditions.
• The APA said the tragedy 'may have been one waiting to happen'.
• The APA noted that while Guyanese of all ethnicities reside in the North-Western District, the majority of the population is Indigenous, and all use the ferry because it is the most cost-effective transport to the city.
• The APA said Edghill's report that the manifest did not match the identities of some rescued passengers 'exposes poor management and accountability in the operations of the vessels serving the North-West District'.
• The APA wants a comprehensive, independent and transparent review of the tragedy and a similar review of Guyana's entire river and sea transportation systems.
• The APA said the review 'must go far beyond determining the immediate cause of the sinking' and must examine maritime vessel safety standards, maintenance regimes, licensing and inspection procedures, crew training and certification, passenger capacity enforcement, emergency preparedness, weather monitoring, search-and-rescue capabilities, communication systems, and the adequacy of regulatory oversight.
• The APA said the review must include meaningful consultation with the indigenous and riverain communities that rely on these services every day.
• The APA said: 'Every tragedy that fails to produce meaningful reform increases the likelihood of another'.

Quotations

• “In the case of the MV Barima, the review must go far beyond determining the immediate cause of the sinking. It must critically examine the structural deficiencies that continue to place passengers at risk in similar circumstances”— Amerindian Peoples Association, statement
• “Every tragedy that fails to produce meaningful reform increases the likelihood of another”— Amerindian Peoples Association, statement

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