- Guyana ferry capsizes with 179 people on board, leading to a major rescue operation.
- 27 bodies recovered from the sea, while 69 people have been rescued and 83 remain missing.
- Crew comes under scrutiny as Prime Minister Mark Phillips launches an investigation into potential negligence.
- Police have taken the ferry’s captain and at least one crew member into custody after they tested positive for marijuana.
- Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill described the sinking as the country’s worst marine disaster in decades.
- Passengers had complained for years about officials at state-run ferry terminals selling seats for cash without proper records.
- President Irfaan Ali visited survivors and their families in the hospital following the tragedy.
Dozens are feared dead after the MV Barima ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana, with 27 bodies recovered and 83 people still missing. The ferry was carrying 179 passengers from Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it issued a distress call on Saturday night.2
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill described the incident as the worst marine disaster in decades. 69 survivors have been rescued, but the search continues for the missing. Prime Minister Mark Phillips has initiated an investigation into potential negligence by the crew, particularly after the captain tested positive for marijuana.5
Edghill emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “We have a zero tolerance for members of the crew drinking or smoking while at work.” He also noted that passengers had previously complained about irregularities at state-run ferry terminals, where seats were allegedly sold for cash without proper documentation, which he labeled as “a criminal action.”
President Irfaan Ali has visited survivors and their families in the hospital, offering support during this tragic time. The investigation into the ferry's operations and the crew's conduct is ongoing as the nation mourns the loss of life and seeks answers.7
“Of the 179 aboard, 69 were rescued and 83 remain missing, as Minister Edghill called the crew's actions 'a criminal action'. Separately, flash floods in Afghanistan's Nuristan province killed 20, left 100 missing, and swept away homes and farmland.”
CP24
