–Prime Minister says transportation and assistance with religious rites will be provided for grieving families
The Government of Guyana will support the funeral arrangements of those who died in the MV Barima tragedy, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips announced on Tuesday evening.
The assistance will include transporting the deceased to their home communities and facilitating religious rites in keeping with their families’ wishes.
Speaking at a press conference, Phillips said the government’s immediate priority remains the ongoing search and rescue operation.
However, he said efforts are also focused on ensuring the deceased are treated with dignity and that their families receive the support needed to bring closure.
“Unfortunately, we did find some people who passed on during this unfortunate incident. Efforts will be made to recover their bodies, ensure they are positively identified, and work with their families and communities to bring closure, including transportation to their home communities for interment and accommodating whatever religious rites the families request,” the Prime Minister said.
Phillips stressed that the process requires sensitivity and respect, describing it as a delicate operation for all agencies involved.
He added, “The PPP/C Government is always a caring government and we will not leave the families to cope here on their own. We will work with the families through this difficult situation to bring closure.”
He also disclosed that the Ministry of Health and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have established joint protocols for the identification, transportation and storage of the deceased, while relatives will be invited to formally identify bodies before they are released to their families for funeral arrangements.
Phillips stressed that the recovery effort is a complex and sensitive operation, requiring a careful and compassionate approach in handling issues surrounding the deceased and their families.
According to the latest government update, the death toll in the MV Barima tragedy has climbed to 27, while authorities continue search-and-rescue operations in the hope of finding more survivors.
Authorities revealed that the number of people believed to have been aboard the MV Barima had been revised from an initial 133, comprising 116 passengers and 17 crew members, to 179.
The updated figure includes 161 passengers and 18 crew members.
