Mother who lost son and brother in MV Barima tragedy says family still waiting for answers

What this source establishes

FIGURE OF RECORD ON PAYMENTS: "On Tuesday, Poon said she received $350,000 from the Government to assist with funeral expenses." The archive carried APNU's 25 July complaint that some families were offered "a mere $300,000"; this is a first-person account of an actual payment, at a different figure, on 28 July. Louvicia Poon, 30, of Wakenaam lost her 11-year-old son Ronaldo and her 17-year-old brother Christian Rodrigues. Poon: "I had to accept what I got. I can't really understand this government."

Key claims

• FIGURE OF RECORD ON PAYMENTS: "On Tuesday, Poon said she received $350,000 from the Government to assist with funeral expenses." The archive carried APNU's 25 July complaint that some families were offered "a mere $300,000"; this is a first-person account of an actual payment, at a different figure, on 28 July.
• Louvicia Poon, 30, of Wakenaam lost her 11-year-old son Ronaldo and her 17-year-old brother Christian Rodrigues.
• Poon: "I had to accept what I got. I can't really understand this government."
• [SINGLE SOURCE] Detail of the State House engagements the Office of the President has been publicising: "I am in town today after they called us for a meeting. I live so far and up to now, about 3 p.m., I still sit down waiting after coming to State House since before 8 a.m. I am living far and I have an 11-month-old baby."
• Poon: "I am sitting here waiting to hear what satisfaction they have to offer us."
• [SINGLE SOURCE] The family attributes a further death to the disaster's strain: "Poon said her children's uncle recently died after suffering from high blood pressure, and relatives believe the emotional strain caused by the disaster contributed to his death." This is a family belief, not a certified cause of death, and is not counted in any toll.
• The article states the vessel issued "a distress call near the mouth of the Pomeroon River" and gives the toll as "73 lives, while 76 people were rescued."

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