Guyana Lottery Company donates cash to MV Barima ferry relief initiative

Last Updated on Saturday, 22 August 2026, 8:22 by Denis Chabrol

The Canada-headquartered parent of the Guyana Lottery Company (GLC) Friday night said it would donate GY$5 million to a fund geared to provide support to survivors of the MV Barima ferry that sank last month off the Essequibo Coast en route to Port Kaituma.

The announcement was made by President of the Lottery and Gaming Division of Canadian Bank Note (CBN) Kirk Arends at the GLC’s 30th anniversary appreciation dinner and awards ceremony

“As a demonstration of our support and commitment to the people of Guyana, Canadian Bank Note Company is pleased to announce a contribution of GY$5 million to the partners group to help provide ongoing support to survivors and bereaved families affected by this tragedy,” he said in a video address to the event.

The top official of CBN, the parent company of GLC, hoped that the contribution would assist in the recovery process and serve as a small expression of the company’s “solidarity with those impacted during this difficult time.

The 87-year old Scottish-built ferry sank on July 19 with an estimated 179 passengers and crew, resulting in the confirmed death of 72 persons and the rescue of 76 persons. 

GLC Director and General Manager, Kalima Ali said several staff members lost family members and a number of customers were affected by the tragedy.  She said the GLC was encouraged when President Irfaan Ali launched his Heart Initiative, H-E-A-R-T, we thought that that would be the best way to channel our contributions to reach the families through a national coordinating mechanism and I’m very thankful and pleased as a company that we are able to support this,” she said. The initiative, which stands for ‘Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust’, was launched shortly after the incident.