Guyana civil society calls for ministers' leave following MV Barima disaster

A coalition of civil society organizations in Guyana is demanding that two government ministers and three senior officials be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the MV Barima tragedy. The coalition has specifically named Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, alongside MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas, Transport and Harbours Department General Manager Yolanda Hughes Smith, and T&HD Board Chairperson Rosalinda Rasul.

The groups argue that stepping aside is not an admission of guilt but a necessary step to ensure accountability while investigators examine potential systemic failures in river transportation. Key areas of concern include the availability of refurbished passenger areas at Kingston Wharf and the condition of the MV Ma Lisha, a replacement vessel reportedly facing corrosion issues and hindered by incomplete docking facilities.

Commentators have echoed these calls, suggesting that the loss of 79 lives necessitates leadership accountability. Critics have pointed to a pattern of negligence, including delays in wharf construction and the continued operation of aging vessels, characterizing the incident as a preventable tragedy resulting from institutional lapses.