Last Updated on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 18:12 by Written By Denis Chabrol
The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sinking of the MV Barima ferry almost three months ago on Wednesday said BK International was picked as the preferred bidder to salvage the wreck from the Atlantic sea off the Essequibo Coast.
This is the first time Guyanese were being made aware that one of the three shortlisted companies was likely to bring up the 87-year old vessel that sank on July 18, 2026 with 179 passengers and crew members. The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board later announced that the contract was indeed awarded to BK International.
Polish naval architect and marine engineer, Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski made the disclosure to surviving relatives and families as well as those who were rescued at a meeting held Wednesday afternoon at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
Dr Jasionowski said he had gone as far as meeting with members of the salvaging team to ensure that the vessel is retrieved as carefully as possible to minimise any adverse impact on the evidence.
He said BK International team, with whom he met personally on Tuesday, was preparing the gear and plans. He said he discussed the plans so that “no damage to the evidence or damage would be done.” “The plan will be careful because if you lash it, it’s very easy to break it and what happens is the recovery becomes cut and scrap metal and whatever remains with it so it has to take it’s time,” he said.
Dr Jasionowski said he met the salvage masters and engineers ahead of the company being contracted. He said the team promised to provide daily reports over the next two weeks.
BK International is founded by Brian Tiwarie, an avowed supporter of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), though he had flirted briefly with the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) between 2015 and 2020.
After a young woman, who lost her father in the tragedy, indicated her disapproval that BK International was tipped to get the contract, one of the commissioners- Ms. Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, Attorney at Law with expertise in Admiralty and Maritime Law- said “we’re not responsible for who is given the contract.” She said none of the commissioners were politicians and “each of us is outside from the politics of Guyana” but they were hired by the President of Guyana Dr Irfaan Ali.
Of the 10 expressions of interest, BK International as well as Industrial Fabrications Inc. (InFab),and the Netherlands-headquartered KMS B.V. were shortlisted and asked to submit financial proposals.
According to National Procurement and Tender Administration Board records, KMB B.V. had offered to salvage the MV Barima about 10 miles off Devonshire Castle village, Essequibo Coast, for US$2,035,100. InFab had proposing to do the job for US$1,895,000 while BK International’s asking price is US$1,034,000.
The meeting was emotionally charged with several persons sobbing as they struggled to speak to the commissioners. “Many times, these children (survivors) would be by themselves. We come together and cry like ‘how’,” said a woman as she expressed skepticism about the outcome of the inquiry. “Nothing is coming out of this story. There is nothing. I don’t know if they will ever get a burial. Bring up the boat and you all will get evidence. Float the boat,” she said.
A young lady said her mother has had to return to the work for the first time since she met her husband who died in the mishap to maintain the younger children. She laid the blame squarely at the feet of the government and said she did not expect the investigation to yield any benefits to her, her mother and siblings. “The same government that hire you all to do you all investigation is the same government that let that happen,” she said. Saying that she was travelling on the vessel since she was nine years old, the woman recalled that there was a fire in the engine room
Commissioner Alfonso conceded that “it is a hard thing to say but we can’t right the past wrongs.” “We can point out you did something wrong and deal with the people responsible for it.” She said while the attendees were angry, the commissioners did not feel they were being attacked. “For those who have Trinidadian friends, we not here to ‘mamaguy’ (sweet-talk or deceive) anybody,” said Ms Alfonso. She appealed to the affected persons to earn their confidence and trust
The COI is not legally binding, was not mandated to award compensation but the findings and recommendations can be used as the basis for seeking redress in a civil or criminal court.
