THE MV BARIMA TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED

What this source establishes

In a letter to Kaieteur News, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine sets out a detailed repair chronology for the MV Barima: built by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd in 1939 and registered and launched in British Guiana on 17 November 1939, with ownership assumed by the government of Guyana in 1966; a 2017 breakdown repaired at GY$150 million, emergency engine component replacement in 2021, two weeks of emergency repairs at GY$90 million in 2022, critical repairs at Parika in 2024, and dry-docking slated for late 2026 at GY$124.5 million. No other source in this corpus gives the launch and registration date or the 1966 transfer of ownership.

Key claims

• Built by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd in 1939; registered and launched in British Guiana on 17 November 1939
• In 1966, after Independence, the government of Guyana assumed ownership
• Broke down 2017, repaired at GY$150 million, returned to commission
• 2021: major engine components replaced in an emergency
• 2022: portions seriously deteriorated; two weeks of emergency repairs at GY$90 million
• 2024: critical repairs in the Parika dockyard
• Slated for dry-docking late 2026 and upgrade at GY$124.5 million
• Edghill told Parliament in 2023 that the US$12.7m replacement MV Ma Lisha was en route from Calcutta, and travelled to India to attest to her seaworthiness
• Alleges a documented history of water intake, passenger and cargo overload, and unrecorded passenger manifests — no document cited

Quotations

• “How else can anyone explain an 87-year-old boat ferrying some 130 persons on a 12-hour journey which was earmarked for major repairs a few months before it capsized?”
• “They also believe that alcohol did not erode a hull or allow water to pour into the vessel.”

Prior warnings recorded

• Asserts (post-disaster) that 'many transportation experts believe that the tragedy could have been avoided' and that the vessel had a documented prior history of water intake and overloading. Does not name those experts or cite the documents. Cites Minister Edghill's 2023 parliamentary statement that the US$12.7m replacement vessel MV Ma Lisha was en route from Calcutta as evidence the replacement commitment was made and not honoured.

Vessel facts recorded

• fact: Built by the Scottish company Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd in 1939, and registered and launched in British Guiana on 17 November 1939
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/
• fact: In 1966, after Independence, the government of Guyana assumed ownership
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/
• fact: Broke down in 2017; repaired at a cost of GY$150 million and returned to commission
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/
• fact: In 2021 major engine components were replaced in an emergency
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/
• fact: In 2022 portions of the vessel were deemed seriously deteriorated; subject to emergency repairs for two weeks at a cost of GY$90 million
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/
• fact: Subject to critical repairs again in 2024 in the Parika dockyard
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/
• fact: Was slated to be dry-docked in the later part of 2026 and upgraded at a cost of GY$124.5 million
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/
• fact: Alleges a documented history of problems including water intake, passenger and cargo overload, and unrecorded passenger manifests
• source: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2026/07/23/the-mv-barima-tragedy-could-have-been-avoided/

This page is a research summary prepared for comment and review. It is not the article. Copyright in the original remains with Kaieteur News; the full text is held only in the private research corpus from which this archive was compiled. Follow the link above to read it at the source.