Heartfelt tributes as family bids farewell to MV Barima victim Mark Abrams

Heartfelt and glowing memories filled the air on Tuesday as family, friends and loved ones gathered to bid a final farewell to 54-year-old businessman Mark Abrams, one of the victims of the tragic MV Barima sinking. Abrams was among the passengers travelling aboard the vessel on July 18 when it went down in the Atlantic Ocean while en route to Port Kaituma, Region One. He was heading to the mining community to continue the work he had faithfully done for years, selling vegetables to earn an honest living. His funeral and cremation service was held at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium and Funeral Home on Tuesday, where relatives prayed for his soul to find eternal peace after a life defined by hard work, kindness and dedication to his family. The service was marked by emotional tributes from those who knew him best. One close family friend recalled the final conversation shared with Abrams just before he boarded the ill-fated vessel. “The last words I told Mark on Friday, he said, ‘Sis, I have some meat.’ I said, ‘Bring it and I gon keep it.’ Then I told him, ‘Safe journey. We gon gyaff when you come back,” the woman said. Some of the relatives and friends of Mark Abrams during the funeral service. Those simple words, spoken in anticipation of his safe return, have now become a painful memory for loved ones still grappling with the devastating loss. The woman said at about 04:00hrs on July 19, she learnt that the ferry sank. It was until about an hour later that she called the family and it was confirmed that Mark’s time on earth had come to a tragic end. Another family friend remembered Abrams as a humble and hardworking man whose life was built on perseverance and integrity. “He was a man of the people, earning his honest living through sweat and dedication. To his grieving family, friends and fellow travellers from the MV Barima, please know that you are not walking this dark valley alone. Your feelings are shared by the entire community,” the friend said. Abrams’ death is one of several lives claimed in the MV Barima tragedy, which has left families across Guyana mourning the loss of loved ones. For those who gathered on Tuesday, the farewell was not only a final goodbye but also a celebration of a man remembered for his generosity, unwavering work ethic and the lasting impact he made on those fortunate enough to know him.