Court refuses to end murder case over MV Barima sinking
Three Transport and Harbours Department employees still face murder charges over a sinking that claimed 73 lives.
On Monday, Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir turned down a defence request to end the murder case. The three accused are employees of the Transport and Harbours Department, and they are charged over the MV Barima tragedy.
Magistrate Mohabir told the court: “I say, therefore, and this is my ruling, that it is not an abuse process to have these proceedings conducted in this court.”
The MV Barima capsized and sank on 18 July 2026. The ferry went down roughly 9.3 nautical miles from Devonshire Castle, off the Essequibo Coast. The Transport and Harbours Department, part of the Ministry of Public Works, owned and ran the vessel. Its scheduled route ran from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, which lies in the North West District.
There were 179 people on board, including 18 crew members. The disaster killed 73 people, and 76 survived. About 30 people are still missing.
Demerara Waves reported that the accused are Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts and T&HD Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson. The outlet said they first appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on 28 July 2026 and were remanded, which means kept in custody. It added that the case was later moved to the Charity Magistrate's Court.
Village Voice News reported that Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, defended the choice to bring more than 70 counts of murder. The outlet said each man faces 73 counts, or charges. It said she argued that criminal cases do not have to wait for the findings of the Commission of Inquiry.
That five-member Commission is looking into the sinking of the MV Barima. Its job is to find the facts, decide who is responsible and suggest reforms to make sea travel safer. It is also reviewing the search, rescue and recovery work.
Because of the ruling, the paper committal in the case can start on 16 November at 10:00h. A paper committal is a step before trial. The magistrate reads the prosecution's case on paper.
The story was first reported by Guyana Times.