Guyana’s MV Barima Disaster Prompts Calls for IMO Investigation and Orphan Protection

The capsizing of the state‑operated ferry MV Barima in Guyana left dozens of passengers dead and many children orphaned. The Transparency Institute of Guyana (TIGI) is urging the government to provide immediate legal safeguards for these children, including the creation of court‑supervised trusts for any compensation and the reopening of St. Ann’s Orphanage under state‑funded, NGO‑managed care.

TIGI and other civil‑society groups are also demanding that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conduct an independent inquiry into the disaster, citing a large gap between official passenger manifests and surveillance footage that showed roughly 179 people boarded the 87‑year‑old vessel. The groups call for the recusal of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, Minister Deodat Indar and senior MARAD officials to ensure impartiality. Prime Minister Mark Phillips said the priority remains search, recovery and support for grieving families, while not ruling out international technical assistance.