Opposition Leader steps up calls for removal of Public Works Minister over MV Barima ferry tragedy

What this source establishes

News Source Guyana reports Azruddin Mohamed escalating his demands on 23 July, including a statement that the Opposition will move a no-confidence motion against Minister Edghill in the National Assembly. Mohamed says families of crew members told him captains received calls from Edghill and Thomas pressing them to carry cargo to Region One when the boat was overloaded; the allegation is attributed to relatives rather than documented. The report records that police had arrested three of the four surviving crew members, including the captain, plus a THD load supervisor. Mohamed says he wants the FBI, Scotland Yard or another internationally recognised body to investigate.

Figures cited in this source

death toll climbing steadily; references conflicting counts of 67 then 77

Key claims

• Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed continued calls for Minister of Works Bishop Juan Edghill to be held accountable and responsible.
• Mohamed said: 'Before we reach to the parliamentary level, Edghill must go, Edghill must resign... Edghill should have been in the lock-ups since this incident happened.'
• Mohamed called it 'our country's largest, after the Jim Jones Massacre, national tragedy'.
• Since the Saturday night tragedy police arrested three of the four crew members who survived, including the captain, and a load supervisor from the Transport and Harbours Department.
• Mohamed said the Opposition will take action in the National Assembly against the Public Works Minister, including moving a no-confidence motion against him.
• Mohamed alleged, based on what he heard from families of crew members: 'if the boat is overloaded, they are going to get a call from Edghill, they are going to get a call from Mr. Thomas, please ensure that these cargo go to Region One... They are pressuring the small man, but at the end of the day, the small man got to get instructions from the ministers.'
• Mohamed said no system is in place as it relates to the manifest and criticised shifting figures: 'One time they said 67, then it jump to 77. Now if they can't manage a simple ferry, how can they manage this country.'
• Mohamed wants the incident investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Scotland Yard, or an internationally recognized investigating body.
• A number of political parties and groups including the Amerindian People's Association (APA) have called for Edghill's removal and for a swift, transparent and complete probe.

Quotations

• “Edghill should have been in the lock-ups since this incident happened. He should have been in the lock-ups first assisting with the investigation.”— Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition
• “They are pressuring the small man, but at the end of the day, the small man got to get instructions from the ministers.”— Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition
• “Now, no system is in place as it relates to the manifest, no system. They don't even know how much bodies, they don't know how many persons went on the vessel.”— Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition
• “This is our country's largest, after the Jim Jones Massacre, national tragedy”— Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition

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