Recovery operation enters critical phase as search continues for MV Barima victims

What this source establishes

A DPI release on President Ali's direct briefing to families, the most candid official account of operational difficulty in this manifest. Ali says an attempt to move the wreck ran into trouble and that a number of divers 'got sick' and had to be withdrawn. He raises full salvage of the vessel as a last resort he hopes to avoid and which would have to be discussed with family members. The release records the Guyana Coast Guard remaining continuously on site with a recovery network in place, and a further briefing for families after Friday morning's operation.

Official statement recorded in this source

"The only other option after that, which we don't want to get to… will have to be discussed with family members, is to try for a full salvage of the vessel… We are hopeful that we don't get to that." — President Ali

Key claims

• President Ali met with families of those awaiting word on their loved ones and provided an update on the search, rescue and recovery operation.
• President Ali: "Earlier today, in our attempt to move the wreck, we had some challenges for us. With the divers going down all the time, we have a number of divers who got sick. So a number of divers had to come back in."
• If efforts to reposition the vessel overnight do not produce the desired outcome, divers will return early Friday morning to attempt to enter the wreck and remove additional obstructions.
• President Ali raised full salvage of the vessel as a last-resort option to be discussed with family members.
• The Guyana Coast Guard will maintain continuous presence around the site with a recovery network in place.

Quotations

• “Earlier today, in our attempt to move the wreck, we had some challenges for us. With the divers going down all the time, we have a number of divers who got sick. So a number of divers had to come back in.”— Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana
• “The only other option after that, which we don't want to get to… will have to be discussed with family members, is to try for a full salvage of the vessel… We are hopeful that we don't get to that.”— Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana

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