Government concludes MV Barima search and recovery operations

The Government of Guyana has confirmed that it has concluded the search and recovery operations in the MV Barima tragedy, while the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remains operational. The move comes two weeks after the tragic sinking of the MV Barima ferry during its journey from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. The ferry was eight hours into the 24-hour long trip when it capsized and sank. The bodies of 73 persons were recovered with more than 30 others still missing. A total of 76 persons were rescued the morning after the ferry went down. There were no recoveries since then. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is still seeking the public's help in identifying the remains of five persons who died in the tragedy. With the search and recovery operations now concluded, the various Government agencies that were part of those operations have been reviewing their response. Prime Minister Mark Phillips attended an inter-agency meeting convened as part of the After-Action Review of the response to the MV Barima incident at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) headquarters on Thomas Road today. According to a statement on the Prime Minister's Facebook page, the meeting facilitated an inter-agency review of the coordinated response to the MV Barima incident and measures to strengthen national emergency preparedness. The meeting brought together the principal agencies involved in the coordinated response. Those agencies include the Guyana Defence Force, including the Coast Guard and Air Corps, the Guyana Police Force, the Civil Defence Commission, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, the Maritime Administration Department, regional authorities and other government agencies. Many survivors of the tragedy complained of being in the water for more than six hours before help arrived. The search and rescue and search and recovery operations will form part of the Commission of Inquiry into the ferry tragedy.