'Fire Edghill!' – letter writer blames Minister for MV Barima disaster

What this source establishes

In a letter to Kaieteur News, Roger Ally opens with his grandfather's proverb, 'Rivah nah get front door; rivah nah get backdoor', and makes a two-tier blame argument. He writes that the captain and chief engineer owed passengers a duty of care and are culpable for dereliction of duty, but that the proximate cause is Minister Edghill's mismanagement of public transport, and that President Ali must fire him. He contrasts the MV Barima with the Mahdia dorm fire on foreseeability, and quotes Edghill's 2023 'game changer in water transportation' claim about the MV Ma Lisha against that vessel's failure to make a maiden voyage on the route.

The author’s argument, as stated

The proximate cause of the MV Barima disaster is Minister Juan Edghill's mismanagement of the public transport sector, and President Ali must fire him.

Key claims

• The writer says the MV Barima captain and chief engineer owed passengers a duty of care and are culpable for dereliction of duty.
• The writer names Minister Edghill's mismanagement of the public transport sector as the proximate cause.
• The writer states the ministry purchased MV Ma Lisha for US$12.7 (as printed) to ply the Georgetown to North West District corridor and that the vessel has yet to make a maiden voyage on the proposed route.
• The writer cites a Guyana Chronicle report of 22 April 2023 in which Edghill called the purchase 'a game changer in water transportation'.
• The writer cites Kaieteur News of 22 July 2026 for Edghill's explanation that the vessel is not in operation because the wharf must be rebuilt.
• The writer frames MV Barima as the second major catastrophe under President Ali after the Mahdia (spelled 'Madhia') dorm fire, distinguishing them on foreseeability.
• The writer says the tragedy did not spare PPP supporters and did not disproportionately affect APNU or WIN supporters.

Quotations

• “Rivah nah get front door; rivah nah get backdoor.”— Roger Ally, letter writer, quoting his late grandfather 'Cap'n Mackenzie'
• “They owed the passengers a duty of care; they are culpable for their dereliction of duty!!!”— Roger Ally, letter writer
• “Bishop Edghill is the expert in putting the cart before the horse.”— Roger Ally, letter writer
• “Accountability behooves President Ali fires Minister Edghill!! Guyana is watching; the PPP will be held accountable in the next election.”— Roger Ally, letter writer

Actors named

• Roger Ally, letter writer
• Juan Edghill ('Bishop Edghill'), Minister of Public Works, whom the writer wants fired
• Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, held responsible for Edghill's appointment
• MV Barima captain and chief engineer, described as culpable for dereliction of duty
• MV Ma Lisha, vessel purchased for US$12.7 (figure as printed) for the Georgetown–North West District corridor
• PPP (governing party), APNU and WIN (opposition parties)
• 'Cap'n Mackenzie', the writer's late maternal grandfather

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