By Staff Writer
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Jul 19, CMC – Government and rescue officials Sunday remained “hopeful” that all 116 passengers and crew on board the MV Burima, which capsized on Saturday night as it made its way to Port Kaituma, a small village within the Barima-Waini administrative region of Guyana, would be rescued.
“We are hopeful that we’ll be able to account for all who were on board: 116 passengers and 17 crew. Among those passengers, there were several children, and I would believe that the good people of Guyana would offer this Sunday morning their thoughts and prayers that all the men and women who are engaged in this search and rescue operation will be able to have huge success and while they are conducting that search they themselves are safe,” Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told a news conference.
“It’s still too early for us to be definitive about several things, so while you may have questions, it’s still too early to be definitive, like, for example, at this stage we can’t tell you the names of the 53 that were rescued,” he told reporters.
He said that Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony is leading a massive health response in both Regions Two and Three and that medical personnel are on standby to treat and to deal with all on arrival.
“The Civil Defence Commission, by nature of its own task and mandate, has been operationalised, and they are lending (4:53) support in this matter,” he added.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips said that while more details would be provided as the rescue work continues, there is nothing to suggest that the 89-year-old vessel was “overweight”.
“We are in a state of search and rescue as I speak to you. Our effort is aimed at rescuing everybody who was on board that ferry,” he said, adding that the search and rescue operations include both government and private vessels and aircraft, including helicopters.
Edghill said that the MV Burima departed with 116 passengers, plus crew, for Port Kaituma, which had become known internationally when on November 18, 1978, it became the site of one of the largest mass murders in American history when 918 members of the Peoples Temple settlement in nearby Jonestown were coerced or forced to drink cyanide-laced punch under armed guard.
Edghill said that a distress call had been received near midnight and emergency operations kicked into gear with the use of state and private assets.
“That operation is currently ongoing,” he said, adding that the MV Burima was fitted with 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts, and six inflatable life rafts.
“ As the Prime Minister outlined, all of the vessels available to the Coast Guard, all of the vessels available to MARAD (Marine Administrative Department), private operators that were operating in the area, operators of vessels from the Esequibo coast as well as from Region three were deployed and that has led to huge success even in the dark hours and we expect that to improve in the daylight hours now,” Edghill said.
Edghill said that no information regarding the names of persons already rescued would be made available.
“I would like to reiterate at this stage that as I was saying, I’d like to reiterate at this stage that this is an ongoing search and rescue operation and we have to follow the protocols. We are not giving out any names of persons who were rescued so far.
“We want to ensure that every family that is concerned has the information that they need so immediately as information becomes available.
“The transport and harvest department staff will be going through the manifest with the families as information becomes available to inform them of status, but that information must be treated with care because we have to be certain before we divulge,” he added.
Edghill said he wanted to reassure the public “that everything that can be done should be done or should have been done was done and we are continuing that at this time”.
Earlier, President Irfaan Ali, who is presently out of Guyana, said in a statement that he is “deeply distressed by the capsizing of the MV Barima last evening.
“The entire Cabinet is engaged in the national response to this incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and crew and their families at this time. Their safety is now our immediate concern.
“I extend my gratitude and support to all those involved in the rescue operations. Many of them have been working tirelessly since this incident happened, and our nation stands with them as they undertake the rescue operations. No effort will be spared in this mission,” Ali said, asking “all Guyanese to keep those aboard the MV Barima, their families, and every rescuer in their thoughts and prayers. Let us remain united in hope at this time,” Ali said.
CMC/gt/ir/2026