MV Barima murder case to proceed following magistrate ruling

A magistrate has ruled that murder proceedings against three employees of the Transport and Harbours Department must proceed following the MV Barima ferry disaster. The accused—Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson—face joint charges for the murder of 76 people after the vessel sank on July 18 near the Essequibo Coast.

The defense argued that the proceedings constituted an abuse of process, contending that the Shipping Act and a parallel presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) should take precedence in investigating the maritime incident. However, Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir rejected the application to stay the case, ruling that the criminal proceedings could continue.

The prosecution maintained that the Director of Public Prosecutions holds constitutional powers to institute charges regardless of the statutory maritime investigative mechanisms. The court is scheduled to return on November 16, 2026, for the commencement of the paper committee. A decision on whether there is sufficient evidence to commit the men to stand trial before a High Court judge and jury is expected on December 14.