Protests against murder charge for MV Barima captain, others; Indigenous Amerindians among activists picketing President's office

What this source establishes

First press record of a THIRD protest site: "Family members and staff of the Transport and Harbours Department protested across Demerara on Wednesday" — at Den Amstel (WCD), at Melanie Damishana (ECD), and outside the Office of the President. At Den Amstel "approximately 30 demonstrators gathered"; they "chanted 'jail the criminals, free the innocent' and held placards reading 'wrongly accused, wrongly judged' and 'free Delon Granderson'."

Key claims

• First press record of a THIRD protest site: "Family members and staff of the Transport and Harbours Department protested across Demerara on Wednesday" — at Den Amstel (WCD), at Melanie Damishana (ECD), and outside the Office of the President.
• At Den Amstel "approximately 30 demonstrators gathered"; they "chanted 'jail the criminals, free the innocent' and held placards reading 'wrongly accused, wrongly judged' and 'free Delon Granderson'."
• The Melanie Damishana protest "supported MV Barima Captain Kevin 'KP' Price, 40, and Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42."
• [SINGLE SOURCE, and materially important to the prosecution] "The three accused men face murder charges despite Prime Minister Mark Phillips stating he did not believe 'they set out to kill occupants.'" The head of government is on record doubting the mens rea element while the DPP prosecutes it.
• Outside the Office of the President, placards read "indigenous lives matter" and "jail Juan, jail dem all. accountability is a must."
• Mohamed: "we join the call for the MV Barima to be raised so that more victims can be recovered" and more families receive "dignified closure they deserve."
• "Prime Minister Phillips reiterated that government possessed 'nothing to hide' regarding the incident and would address salvage decisions based on family wishes."
• Demerara Waves gives the toll as "the MV Barima tragedy that claimed 72 lives on July 18, 2026."

This page is a research summary prepared for comment and review. It is not the article. Copyright in the original remains with Demerara Waves; 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.