A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has challenged the government’s handling of the proposed salvage of the MV Barima, saying September ended without a publicly announced contractor or a clear mobilisation date, more than two months after the vessel sank.

In a press statement headed “MV Barima: Where is the urgency?”, APNU said the pace of the procurement process was inconsistent with assurances that the disaster was being treated as a national priority.

“The Government cannot continue to tell the families of the victims of the MV Barima tragedy that this matter is being treated with urgency when the timeline tells a very different story,” the statement said.

The party argued that recovering the vessel was important both to families still awaiting the remains of relatives and to establishing what happened during the July 18 disaster.

“This is not simply another government procurement exercise. People died. Families are still waiting. Some families have not been able to lay their loved ones to rest,” it said.

The 87-year-old, state-owned passenger and cargo vessel sank while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. Seventy-three bodies had been recovered and approximately 30 people remained unaccounted for. 

APNU outlined a series of government announcements, beginning with Prime Minister Mark Phillips’ July 28 assurance that the wishes of affected families would guide the response.

It noted that expressions of interest closed on August 14, after which Phillips said submissions would be evaluated, a contractor selected and negotiations undertaken. On August 18, President Irfaan Ali said companies had been shortlisted and would be invited to submit financial proposals.

The three financial bids were opened on September 8. According to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, BK International Inc submitted the lowest bid at approximately $1.034 billion. Industrial Fabrication Inc bid $1.895 billion, while Netherlands-based KMS B.V. submitted $2.0351 billion

The procurement was advertised on a “no cure, no pay” basis. The assessment would consider technical capacity, the proposed salvage method and the ability to preserve evidence for the Commission of Inquiry, with the lowest price not automatically determining the award. The salvage requirements include protecting and documenting forensic evidence. 

APNU pointed out that, on September 24, Ali was still reporting that technical teams were evaluating the bids and that a company had not yet been selected.

APNU said compliance with procurement requirements should not prevent the government from acting urgently.

It called for the government to explain the time taken and disclose when a contractor would be selected and mobilised.

“Where is the urgency? Where is the contractor? Where is the mobilisation date?”

The criticism follows repeated protests by relatives seeking the recovery of the vessel and information about their loved ones.

During a September 8 protest outside the Office of the President, Tianie Thomas, whose brothers Kyle and Brian Thomas died in the tragedy, told Kiskadee Watch that families were frustrated by the lack of communication.

“We ain’t hearing nothing; like everything gone silent,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Kiskadee Watch reported on September 30 that the Commission of Inquiry was expected to commence in the first week of October. The commission was sworn in on July 30 and is chaired by former Belizean judge Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith. Its mandate includes examining the vessel’s seaworthiness, maintenance, passenger and cargo loading, crew conduct and the search-and-rescue response. 

The commission has also invited survivors, relatives and other interested persons to apply for standing to participate in its proceedings.

APNU maintained that the salvage could not be allowed to become another delayed administrative matter.

“The MV Barima tragedy must not become another file sitting on a desk in a Ministry. The families deserve better. Guyana deserves better,” it said.