Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has denied that any financial compensation offer has been made to survivors or families affected by the MV Barima tragedy, following a report that a grieving relative rejected a proposed $5 million payment.
Speaking on his weekly programme, Issues in the News, on Tuesday, Nandlall said lawyers working with affected persons had advised him that no specific compensation sum had been offered.
“It is important to emphasise that at this stage, no financial offer of compensation has been made to any survivor or family. Statements that a specific sum has already been offered to any person are wholly untrue,” he said.
His remarks follow a report by Kiskadee Watch in which Leon Murray, of Mabaruma, said he rejected a proposed $5 million payment for the loss of six relatives in the disaster. Murray told the publication that a lawyer approached him about the payment, but he refused because he wanted justice for his family.
In a separate report, the publication quoted a relative of the vessel’s chief engineer, Paul Seepersad, as saying the family would not accept a proposed settlement requiring them to relinquish their rights. The relative expressed concern that the arrangement could absolve the Government of responsibility. That report did not identify a proposed payment amount.
Nandlall maintained that participation in the legal assistance process is voluntary and that affected persons remain entitled to seek their own advice.
“In relation to compensation, the lawyers have advised me that the persons who have met with them have been informed in writing that their participation is voluntary and that they remain free to obtain independent legal advice,” he said.
He added that any eventual payment would be governed by an agreement setting out its terms and conditions.
According to the Attorney General, the legal team has met affected persons and relatives in Region Four and in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, Region One.
He said the Government had been advised to remain at a distance from the lawyers’ engagement with families to avoid concerns about interference or pressure.
“The lawyers have advised me, the government, to be transparent and to remain at arm’s length. The government is not part of this process,” Nandlall stated.
He also said the lawyers had raised concerns that reports of specific compensation offers were creating confusion, anxiety and mistrust among families already coping with loss.
The denial comes against the backdrop of financial assistance already announced through the Government’s HEART initiative.
Earlier this month, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said $122.35 million had been provided to survivors, bereaved families and relatives of missing persons. He said the wider support programme was reaching more than 750 affected persons across Guyana.
The Government has described those payments as assistance, separately from compensation. When launching HEART, Ali said support provided through the programme should not be interpreted as compensation for the disaster.
The MV Barima sank on July 18 while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, killing dozens of people. A Commission of Inquiry has been established to examine the circumstances surrounding the disaster and questions of accountability.
