Mark Phillips

July 22 (UPI) — Guyana will establish an independent commission of inquiry into the country’s deadliest maritime disaster after the sinking of the MV Barima left at least 53 people dead.

Meanwhile, authorities continued rescue and recovery operations while investigating discrepancies in the ferry’s passenger manifest and possible safety violations.

The MV Barima, an 87-year-old ferry operating between Georgetown and the remote community of Port Kaituma, capsized Saturday night after issuing a distress signal, Authorities described it as the worst maritime disaster in Guyana’s history.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips said Wednesday the independent inquiry will be established “as early as possible” to determine what happened before the vessel departed and whether operating procedures were followed.

Investigators will also examine how discrepancies in the passenger manifest occurred, how cargo was handled, whether the emergency response was adequate and whether violations of maritime regulations occurred, according to Guyana’s Department of Public Information.

“I can assure you, yes, we will have a commission of inquiry and people will be held responsible based on the outcome, the results and the recommendations of that commission of inquiry,” Phillips said.

Authorities now believe about 179 people were aboard the ferry when it capsized, despite the official manifest listing 116 passengers and 17 crew members, Phillips said.

He cautioned against drawing conclusions about possible overloading or operational failures before investigators complete their work, but did acknowledge discrepancies between the official records and the estimated number of passengers.

Phillips said the commission also will recommend reforms to strengthen maritime safety, improve ferry operations and help prevent similar disasters.

The announcement comes as search and recovery operations entered a new phase. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said Wednesday that authorities planned to begin raising the wreck using specialized flotation equipment to improve access for rescue and recovery teams, according to the Department of Public Information.

Ali said additional divers and technical personnel were joining the operation, which includes the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, police, civilian volunteers and private-sector partners. He ssaid seabed mapping technology provided with support from ExxonMobil had located the ferry resting on its starboard side, allowing engineers to plan a recovery effort.

“We have not ruled out rescue just yet,” Ali told relatives of those still missing during a late-night briefing, according to the Department of Public Information.

Authorities said 76 people have been rescued since the accident, while dozens remain unaccounted for.

Separate criminal and administrative investigations also remain underway.

Earlier this week, officials confirmed that the ferry’s captain and mate tested positive for marijuana after the accident. Maritime personnel responsible for the vessel’s operations were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the Department of Public Information.

July 20 (UPI) — A ferry carrying 133 passengers and crew members capsized off the coast of Guyana, where authorities continued searching Monday for dozens of missing people while investigating possible irregularities in the vessel’s operation.

The MV Barima departed Georgetown on Saturday afternoon bound for Port Kaituma, a remote community in the country’s northwest that is primarily accessible by sea and river.

According to the official manifest, the vessel was carrying 116 passengers, 17 crew members and some 268 tons of cargo when it issued a distress signal about 11 p.m., Prime Minister Mark Phillips said.

By midday Sunday, rescue teams had saved 67 people, including 41 men, 11 women and 15 children, while the search continued across an area expanded to more than 385 square miles with support from the Guyana Defence Force, the Coast Guard, other government agencies and local fishermen, according to the government.

As rescue efforts progressed, authorities discovered several of the people found alive were not listed on the ferry’s official manifest.

In addition, two crew members tested positive for cannabis during medical examinations conducted after the accident, Phillips said.

After those findings, the government ordered a joint investigation by the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Maritime Administration Department and technical experts to determine the cause of the capsizing.

The investigation will examine the accuracy of the manifest, the cargo being transported, compliance with maritime safety regulations and the actions of the captain and crew before and during the trip.

As part of the initial measures, authorities removed the entire team responsible for the MV Barima’s cargo, dispatch and operational management from their duties to preserve the integrity of the investigation and prevent any interference with the evidence, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said.

Edghill said the Guyana Police Force had obtained security camera footage from Kingston Goods Wharf, from which the ferry departed, to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the accident.

“Where negligence, misconduct or criminal acts are established, those responsible will face the full force of the law,” Phillips said in a statement.

Edghill described it as “criminal” that some passengers were not listed on the official passenger manifest, saying the situation makes it difficult to determine how many people were actually on board, local outlet Kiskadee Watch reported.

He said the captain and two other crew members remain in custody while the investigation continues.

Some survivors also said the vessel was overloaded and that crew members had been drinking alcohol and smoking before the accident, according to Kiskadee Watch.

Authorities initially maintained that the MV Barima had been operating within authorized limits. According to the official manifest, the ferry had capacity for more than 300 passengers and 284 tons of cargo, and it was carrying 268 tons at the time of the accident.

The government also said the vessel completed its mandatory maintenance in 2024 and was operating with new engines.

As search and rescue operations continue, assistance centers remain open for relatives in Georgetown, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, where authorities are providing official information, psychological support and other services to those affected.