'Seaworthiness of MV Barima was MARAD's responsibility, not charged crew's' – Dr. Todd

What this source establishes

Todd, who is also an APNU Member of Parliament, told a Thursday press conference: "None of the parties charged are to determine seaworthiness of that vessel. Seaworthiness of the vessel carries a particular procedure, and that has to be determined by, of course, MARAD." Captain Kevin Price is reported as having publicly stated the 87-year-old vessel lacked radar, an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon, a functioning anchor and a search-and-rescue transponder. This is an untested assertion by an accused man a

Key claims

• Todd, who is also an APNU Member of Parliament, told a Thursday press conference: "None of the parties charged are to determine seaworthiness of that vessel. Seaworthiness of the vessel carries a particular procedure, and that has to be determined by, of course, MARAD."
• [ALLEGATION] Captain Kevin Price is reported as having publicly stated the 87-year-old vessel lacked radar, an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon, a functioning anchor and a search-and-rescue transponder. This is an untested assertion by an accused man about the vessel's condition, not a finding.
• [ALLEGATION] Price is quoted: "Those life rafts expired since 2022, and Maritime did an inspection and did not write off that vessel." This is an allegation against MARAD, unverified by any document produced on 31 July.
• [ALLEGATION] Price is quoted: "Everybody knows is an old vessel the government give me to wuk, 87 years old is that vessel."
• The article states the death toll as 73 killed with about 30 still missing.
• Survivors and relatives allege passenger and cargo overloading; the article records that government authorities have denied this.

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