The captain and two crew members of the ill-fated MV Barima have been charged with murder following the ferry disaster that claimed 73 lives and left 30 people still missing, marking a dramatic development in what has become Guyana’s deadliest maritime tragedy.
The three men, Captain Kevin Price, 40, Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson, 33, appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on July 28, where they were jointly charged in connection with the deaths of passengers aboard the state-owned vessel. They were remanded into custody and are scheduled to reappear before the Charity Magistrate’s Court on August 3.
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The MV Barima capsized on July 18 while traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. Authorities estimate that 179 people were aboard the ferry when it overturned in rough seas. While 76 passengers and crew members were rescued, one survivor later died, bringing the confirmed death toll to 73. Search teams are continuing efforts to locate the remaining missing persons.
The criminal charges follow an initial police investigation that uncovered several troubling findings. Officials reported that numerous passengers were not listed on the official manifest, raising concerns about overcrowding and compliance with safety regulations. Authorities also disclosed that Captain Price and another crew member tested positive for marijuana after the disaster, although investigators have not publicly stated whether impairment contributed directly to the sinking.
Survivors have alleged that the aging ferry was taking on water before it capsized and that passengers expressed concern about the vessel’s condition during the voyage. Those accounts are expected to form part of the evidence examined as both the criminal case and the government’s independent inquiry move forward.
The murder charges have generated widespread public debate because such prosecutions are uncommon in maritime disasters. Prosecutors will now have to prove in court that the actions or omissions of the accused satisfy the legal requirements for murder under Guyanese law. The defendants have not entered pleas, and the charges remain allegations that must be tested through the judicial process.
The criminal proceedings are separate from the international Commission of Inquiry established by President Irfaan Ali to investigate the causes of the disaster. That commission is expected to examine the ferry’s maintenance history, passenger-loading procedures, regulatory oversight, crew conduct, emergency response and other factors to determine whether broader institutional failures contributed to the tragedy.
Opposition parties and families of the victims have continued to demand accountability at every level, arguing that responsibility should extend beyond the crew if evidence shows that regulatory failures, inadequate inspections or government oversight played a role in allowing the ferry to operate under unsafe conditions.
The MV Barima, an 87-year-old vessel, had remained in service despite longstanding concerns about Guyana’s aging ferry fleet. Government officials have acknowledged that delays in replacing the vessel left it operating longer than originally intended, a matter that is also expected to receive scrutiny during the Commission of Inquiry.
As Guyana continues to mourn the victims, the parallel criminal prosecution and independent inquiry are expected to shape the country’s response to one of the worst transportation disasters in its history. The court case will determine whether the accused bear criminal responsibility, while the commission seeks to establish what reforms are necessary to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again.
