(Kaieteur News) – A family torn apart by the tragic capsizing of the MV Barima vessel traveling to the North West District, is calling for urgent government and official intervention to speed up the reimbursement and the return of their hard-earned funds lost during the disaster.
Speaking in an interview with Kaieteur News, Grenville Smith of Aracuru detailed the harrowing night he, his wife, and son fought for survival in open waters for seven hours, the heartbreaking loss of his daughter and grandson, and the secondary struggle they now face to recover the money he had diligently saved over years of hard labour.
Survivors of the MV Barima tragedy, Grenville Smith, Roselle Smith and their son Alex.
The tragic journey began in July after the family attended a funeral and made plans to return home. Boarding the vessel between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, Smith recalled that the boat was already heavily laden, with workers continuing to add cargo right up until departure around 4:00 PM.
By nightfall, as the vessel encountered rough waters, overcrowding forced passengers to huddle together. Around 10:00 PM, violent waves began overtopping the boat, causing it to capsize and throwing all passengers into the dark waters.
“When the boat made the second turn, that was the second wave coming, I was already in the water. Everybody was screaming and hollering,” Smith recounted.
Deceased, 7 year old Aarave Daniels and 13 year old Shamera Smith.
Separated from his family, Smith spent seven grueling hours fighting massive waves, clinging first to a piece of wood and later to a floating gas cylinder, before being rescued at around 5:00 AM by an army patrol boat. While Smith was miraculously reunited aboard the rescue vessel with his wife, Roselle, and his son, Alex, his daughter, Shamera Smith, and young grandson, Aarave Daniels, did not survive. Their bodies were later recovered.
While the family continues to grapple with severe emotional trauma and sleepless nights, they are now facing administrative delays and skepticism regarding funds and property lost in the incident.
Smith explained that prior to the voyage, he had worked grueling shifts in Region One, doing heavy construction and infrastructure work at White Water, Wauna, Arakaka, and the recently opened Matthews Ridge airstrip, earning a daily rate of $10,000 plus overtime. Over two years, he meticulously saved his earnings to purchase a vehicle to transport his daughter to school and ease his family’s severe transportation struggles in the interior.
However, following the sinking of the MV Barima and the loss of their personal belongings and cash, navigating the bureaucracy to claim reimbursements and verify his financial losses has proven to be an exhausting process. “I work hard for this money,” Smith emphasised, noting that he possesses signed contracts, job slips, and official documentation proving his earnings. “I got the pay slip, I got the contract sheet where I signed. My daily fee was $10,000 a day… I worked for this money, saving and saving. It’s hard to pass back the money through all the process and everything.”
Smith expressed frustration over the perception surrounding his claim, pleading with officials to process the compensation and return of funds without unnecessary delays or skepticism. Beyond financial relief, Smith noted that while initial contact was made regarding counseling and mental health support, practical relief and genuine sympathy remain difficult to come by for grieving families. “Every day I try, but it’s always there in your mind,” Smith said. “Seven long hours in the water… it was a real, terrible time for everybody.”
As the family continues to process their loss, they are calling on the relevant authorities to expedite the reimbursement process and provide concrete support to help them rebuild their lives after such a devastating tragedy.
Source: Kaieteur News
