Commission Testimony Confirms 31 MV Barima Survivors Rescued without Life Jackets

Commission testimony confirms 31 MV Barima survivors rescued without life jackets

Testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sinking of the MV Barima has revealed that at least 31 passengers rescued from the Atlantic Ocean were not wearing life jackets, a finding that raises significant questions about safety protocols and emergency preparedness on board. Petty Officer Jerome Agard, who led a search and rescue mission from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard headquarters in Ruimveldt, provid…

MV Barima disaster: Engineer lacked maritime certification, search faced obstacles, rescue logs relied on media

The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the fatal capsizing of the MV Barima on Monday exposed troubling gaps in vessel maintenance, maritime safety procedures and the coordination of the initial search-and-rescue operation, with testimony revealing that the vessel’s chief engineer lacked formal maritime certification for his position, mandatory safety drills were not being conducted, and official rescue records relied on figures obtained from medi…

Coast Guard crew pulls 26 Barima survivors from dark, rough seas -CoI hears

A six-member Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard crew followed cries for help through darkness and rough seas to rescue 26 survivors of the MV Barima tragedy, pulling men, women and children to safety as some clung to wooden pallets, oil containers and life jackets. Petty Officer Jeromey Agard, commander of GDFS 1034, recounted the nighttime […]

GDF deployed helicopter, islander in search for Barima survivors - COI hears

The Guyana Defence Force deployed a Bell 407 helicopter and an Islander aircraft in successive flights as part of the search-and-rescue operation following the July 18 MV Barima tragedy, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) heard on Monday. GDF pilot Major Lloyden Layne testified that he departed Eugene F. Correia International Airport in the Islander […] The post GDF deployed helicopter, islander in search for Barima survivors – COI hea…