President Dr. Irfaan Ali spent hours on the ground at Charity on Monday, where bodies recovered from the MV Barima tragedy were being brought ashore, as he pledged to remain with grieving families through what he described as an “unimaginable” moment of national pain.
Speaking with a reporter at Charity, the President said he had spent the day meeting relatives and survivors, including families from Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, as the recovery operation continued.
“It’s unimaginable. It’s tragic. All day I’ve been, since early this morning, I’ve been talking to family members,” Ali said.
The President said many of the victims were ordinary working-class families, including children who were travelling to spend the August holidays with grandparents and relatives in communities such as Mabaruma, Port Kaituma and Smith Creek.
He said the stories he heard from parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and other relatives were deeply painful.
“I’ve listened to more than 70 stories about their life, their work, their family, their sacrifices. This is deep. This is unimaginable. This is at a scale that one cannot comprehend,” Ali said.
Ali said that while no words could fully explain the grief, trauma and shock facing the affected families, he would remain present with them for as long as possible.
“As much as I can do, as much as I can be here with them, I will do that,” the President said.
He also recognised the efforts of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, fishermen, health workers, regional leaders and young volunteers who have been assisting with the recovery effort.
According to Ali, their response showed the strength of the Guyanese people in moments of crisis.
“All day I’ve seen the men and women in uniform, the Coast Guard, the fishermen, going out there and retrieving these bodies,” he said. “The health personnel, the health workers, the regional leadership here in Region 2 and Region 1, the young people volunteering late in the night, we’re going to be here all night, tells you about the spirit of the Guyanese people.”
The President disclosed that he was overseas when the tragedy occurred but remained in contact with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Cabinet members, the response team, the Coast Guard and the Army throughout the night.
He said he cancelled his engagements and returned to Guyana on the first available flight from Canada.
“From the time the incident occurred, I was on the phone with the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the response team, the Coast Guard, the head of the Coast Guard, the Army. And this was all night, all through the morning, until I got the first flight, cancelled everything, got the first flight back from Canada,” Ali said.
Since returning, Ali said he has remained on the ground, while the Prime Minister continues to lead the operation from the command centre. He also acknowledged the Vice President, Cabinet members, fishermen and others who have supported the response.
The President said authorities are also working to ensure the recovery process is handled with dignity and respect for the dead and their families.
He noted that persons, including members of the media, were asked to respect the situation and avoid filming bodies.
“We have asked persons to have respect, the media, to have respect about vigil and filming bodies. We had to take strong measures, in keeping also with the wishes of the family,” Ali said.
Ali said families from Port Kaituma and Mabaruma had requested to be transported to Charity for this phase of the recovery, and arrangements were made to accommodate them.
He said the Government will continue working with relatives to determine what they want as they move through the final stages of the ordeal.
The President also confirmed that additional international and private-sector support had been deployed. He said a team of expert divers from France was assisting, while ExxonMobil helped scan the area to determine the exact position of the vessel so divers could safely approach it.
“So tonight will continue to be a very active night, and also tomorrow will continue to be a very active period. And we’ll be here to support tonight, all night tonight, and tomorrow,” Ali said.
The President urged Guyanese to keep the affected families in their prayers and to ask for strength, patience and faith for those enduring what he called an unbelievable moment of grief.
