Opposition unites in call for Edghill to go

What this source establishes

Kaieteur News reports on a joint opposition press conference of WIN, FGM, AFC and VPAC demanding Edghill's immediate resignation, held while Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed was at sea for a fourth day of recovery work. Mohamed said Edghill should face criminal responsibility and 'should have been in the lockup', and alleged that cargo-loading instructions come from senior officials. FGM's Amanza Walton said she would have resigned immediately and that President Ali should have sent the minister, the maritime administration head and the T&HD head on leave. Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley outlined parliamentary options including a motion on the minister's resignation ahead of Monday's sitting.

Key claims

• As of 23 July: 65 bodies recovered, 76 people rescued, dozens still unaccounted for.
• Joint opposition press conference held Wednesday at WIN's office on the East Bank of Demerara, comprising WIN, FGM, AFC and VPAC.
• Mohamed was absent, at sea for a fourth day of search and recovery efforts.
• Mohamed: 'Before we reach to the parliamentary level, Edghill must go. Edghill must resign. He must be held accountable.'
• Mohamed said Edghill 'should have been in the lockup since this incident happened' and should be held criminally responsible.
• Mohamed described the disaster as the second deadliest in Guyana's history.
• The government acknowledged the manifest did not accurately reflect the number aboard; the vessel is described as 90 years old; authorities dispute overloading claims made by relatives and survivors.
• Crew members tested positive for THC and have been placed in custody.
• Mohamed alleged political interference, citing reports that cargo-loading instructions come from senior officials, leaving crew little choice but to comply.
• Walton said she would have offered her resignation immediately and criticised Edghill for declaring in a 'bellicose' manner that the vessel was not overloaded before the President addressed the nation.
• Walton said Ali should have required the minister, the head of the maritime administration department and the head of the Transport and Harbours Division to proceed on leave to facilitate a full, independent and impartial investigation.
• Sweatnam: 'One life lost is one too many. We have over one hundred persons dead, and we are here to speak for them. This is the highest level of incompetence.'
• Sarabo-Halley said parliamentary options include a motion on the minister's resignation, with Parliament scheduled to sit on Monday and a question without notice under discussion.

Quotations

• “Before we reach to the parliamentary level, Edghill must go. Edghill must resign. He must be held accountable.”— Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition
• “Edghill should have been in the lockup since this incident happened.”— Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition
• “I would have offered to the president my resignation. It's really that simple.”— Amanza Walton, Forward Guyana Movement Leader and MP
• “One life lost is one too many. We have over one hundred persons dead, and we are here to speak for them. This is the highest level of incompetence.”— Janelle Sweatnam, WIN MP

Actors named

• Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works, target of resignation demands
• Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition, at sea on search and recovery
• Amanza Walton, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) Leader and MP
• Janelle Sweatnam, WIN MP
• Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Opposition Chief Whip
• Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana
• We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Alliance For Change (AFC), Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC), joint opposition parties
• Transport and Harbours Division and maritime administration department heads, whom Walton says should have been sent on leave

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