Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 17:18 by Writer
Attorney General Anil Nandlall Tuesday night dismissed reports that the government was proposing compensation to survivors and relatives of passengers and crew members who drowned when the ferry MV Barima sank more than two months ago.
“It is important to emphasise that, at this stage, no financial offer of compensation has been made to any survivor or family. Statements that a specific sum has already been offered to any person are wholly untrue,” he said on his Facebook programme, “Issues In The News.”
He discouraged Guyanese from paying attention to “reckless and irresponsible” persons who were maligning a distinguished team of lawyers in an attempt to be duped by other lawyers who were allegedly “canvassing for their retainers.”
He said the legal team has cautioned that false reports about purported financial offers would lead to confusion, anxiety and mistrust among persons who are attempting to navigate already difficult circumstances.
Mr Nandlall said under the presidential HEART (Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust) initiative, Guyana has hired a team of independent lawyers, led by Belizean former Attorney General Eamon Courtenay, who has already met with survivors and affected relatives of the July 18 tragedy in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma in Region One (Barima-Waini).
The Attorney General said he was authorised by the lawyers to say that “much has been achieved in offering different forms of assistance.”
He also said the lawyers have asked him to say that the survivors and relatives of the deceased participated in those meetings freely and voluntarily.
They were also informed that they would have to sign an agreement should there be any payment.
“The persons, who have met with the lawyers, have been informed in writing so each have (sic) a letter that their participation is voluntary, that they remain free to obtain independent legal advice, that they have also been advised that the terms and conditions applicable to any eventual payment will be set out in an agreement should that arise,” Mr Nandlall said.
The Attorney General did not say what could be some of the key provisions of such an agreement and whether it would mean that recipients would release the government from any additional claims, liabilities or legal action.
Concerns have been raised by the opposition parties A Partnership for National Unity, We Invest in Nationhood and the Alliance For Change that there could be a repeat of agreements inked with surviving family members of the 20 children who died in the Mahdia Secondary School’s girls’ dormitory fire in May, 2023.
Describing the claim by, among others, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed as “inaccurate and malicious”, Mr Nandlall explained that President Irfaan Ali decided that the government, in an effort to be transparent and at arm’s length and avoid allegations of undue influence, coercion and duress, has assigned the responsibility to a team of independent lawyers.
The MV Barima, which sank about 10 miles off the Essequibo Coast enroute from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, is yet to be salvaged as the government continues to negotiate with three bidders including two from Guyana and one from The Netherlands.
The salvager, according to the expression of interest, must be able to preserve the vessel to be used as forensic evidence in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
While the CoI is set to begin public hearings in early October, the commissioners have been examining stacks of records about the Scottish-made 87-year-old vessel that was ferrying an estimated 179 passengers.
Seventy-three of them were confirmed dead, 76 rescued and the remainder unaccounted for and feared dead.
