Gov’t shortlisting firms for ‘MV Barima’ salvage

GEORGETOWN (CMC):

The Guyana government has begun shortlisting companies to salvage the sunken MV Barima, nearly a month after the ferry disaster claimed at least 73 lives and left more than 30 people missing.

President Irfaan Ali said expressions of interest to refloat the vessel had closed and were now being reviewed, marking the latest step in efforts to recover the ferry, which sank on July 18 in the country’s worst maritime disaster.

“In terms of the salvaging of the vessel, I think, on Friday, the expression of interest would have closed.

“They have received a number of expressions of interest. Those interests are being shortlisted now by the agency, and then those shortlisted entities will be invited to supply prices to have the vessel salvaged. So, that is where we are with that,” Ali told a news conference.

The president said he was unaware of the exact number of proposals received.

“I don’t have the exact number. I think it’s 10 or more. Don’t hold me to that and I don’t know that there is a distinction between local. I know there was a criteria and companies would have proposed, made proposals in relation to that criteria,” he said, adding: “that is why there is a shortlisting process”.

The state-owned passenger ferry was carrying an estimated 179 passengers and crew when it capsized and sank off Guyana’s Atlantic coast during a voyage from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the vessel’s captain, chief mate and the Transport and Harbours Department’s goods superintendent were charged with murder.

Ali said the government’s immediate focus remains on supporting victims’ families, including relatives of those still missing.

“The priority for the government is to ensure that we work closely with the families in relation to the MV Barima. And, when I say families here, I’m not only speaking of families who would have lost loved ones, families here where persons are still missing,” he said.

The government has established the Heart Initiative, a long-term support programme intended to provide legal, medical, psychological, spiritual and social assistance to affected families.

Ali said the initiative would also address the needs of children affected by the tragedy, including consideration of specialised residential support if required.

“So,when I say long-term support, it is long-term support, looking at not the challenges for today and tomorrow, but the long-term challenges, and also, of course, other issues of material and other financial considerations and needs.”

Meanwhile, a commission of inquiry (COI) into the disaster is being finalised ahead of public hearings.

Ali said preparations were under way and that investigators were expected to begin substantive work on the ground next month.

“The team is in place, they have started looking at their procedures, settling their procedures and working out their work plan and, from what I’m told, in early September, the actual work would commence here on the ground.”

The president said the commission’s findings would determine any further government action, and rejected calls for ministers to be removed over the tragedy.

“The work of the COI is the work that I will base my action on when their recommendation comes to me. I think, having established the COI independently, we have to have respect for the work of the COI,” Ali said.