A coalition of Guyanese civil society organisations is demanding that the Government replace BK International Inc. with a specialist marine salvage firm to recover the sunken MV Barima, arguing that the operation must preserve evidence that could explain why the vessel capsized and sank on 18th July.
In a joint statement reported by Kaieteur News on 22nd October 2026, the groups warned that the $1.034 billion salvage contract awarded to BK International risks destroying the very evidence investigators need. Transparency Institute Guyana Inc., the Amerindian Peoples Association, the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Red Thread Crossroads Women's Centre and the Oil and Gas Governance Network all signed the statement.
Why forensic salvage matters more than ordinary salvage
The coalition drew a sharp distinction between ordinary salvage, which aims to recover property, and forensic salvage, which prioritises preserving the wreck's condition, documenting damage and maintaining a chain of custody for evidence. The MV Barima recovery, they argued, demands the second kind of expertise, not the first.
Three companies bid for the contract under National Procurement and Tender Administration Board reference number 211/2026/34. According to the groups, none of the bidders met the stated requirement of five to 10 years of proven marine salvage experience in Guyana or the wider Caribbean, including work in strong currents and zero visibility.
BK International won with the lowest bid. Yet the coalition pointed to the company's own record: its barge, the Darren B, sank in November 2014 and sat as an obstruction in the Demerara River until the State intervened. Dutch salvage firm Koole Contractors eventually raised the wreck. Koole also tendered for the MV Barima contract.
Questions about the Commission of Inquiry
The groups also called for an independent marine safety investigation, arguing that the Commission of Inquiry cannot substitute for a technical investigation into a marine casualty. Guyana is a member of the International Maritime Organization and a signatory to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, and the coalition wants any inquiry to comply with the relevant provisions of the Shipping Act.
The Commission, chaired by Justice Godfrey Smith, will submit its final report to President Irfaan Ali, who appointed the commissioners. The coalition acknowledged the President's legal authority to appoint a commission without consulting the opposition or civil society, but argued that wider consultation would have strengthened public confidence in a process funded by taxpayers.
The statement raised further concerns about the Commission's administration. The groups cited reports that witnesses were being deterred from giving evidence and placed under pressure by CoI Secretary Javed Shadick, allegations the statement itself did not independently substantiate. They also questioned the secretariat's independence, citing Shadick's alleged political support for the governing People's Progressive Party.
No website or published hearing schedule exists, leaving the public uncertain about how to submit evidence or track submissions, the groups said. They emailed a letter to Justice Smith on 2nd September and hand-delivered a copy to his office in Belize requesting an urgent meeting. The letter was never acknowledged, according to the statement.
Livestream delays and access to justice
The coalition welcomed plans to livestream hearings but criticised the decision to impose a two-hour delay. They called for real-time streaming wherever possible, equal and unimpeded press access subject only to court-ordered restrictions, and free and equal access to independent legal representation for witnesses.
They also asked the Commission to assist applicants seeking standing, encourage rather than deter witnesses, provide language interpretation, and reimburse travel and accommodation costs for people travelling long distances to testify. Shortcomings in these areas, the groups warned, could undermine both public confidence and the credibility of the final findings.
Edghill, Indar and three others must step aside, groups say
The coalition also demanded that five senior officials be placed on administrative leave pending the inquiry's outcome: Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas, Transport and Harbours Department General Manager Yolanda Hughes Smith, and the department's Board Chairperson, Rosalinda Rasul.
The groups argued that those occupying senior positions in the chain of command should be held accountable where failures are established, and that stepping aside pending an investigation is not an admission of guilt.
They cited the recently refurbished passenger waiting area at Kingston Wharf, which was unavailable to passengers aboard the MV Barima on 18th July. They also pointed to reported corrosion on the MV Ma Lisha, which arrived in 2023 to replace the MV Barima but reportedly remained unavailable to Port Kaituma residents because docking facilities were still incomplete three years later.
These matters, the coalition said, warrant scrutiny as part of a broader examination of the systems responsible for safe and reliable river transportation. Reporting by News Americas has echoed those concerns, noting that critics continue to question whether BK International meets the tender's experience requirements as the wreck remains unrecovered.
The statement was also endorsed by the Guyanese Organization of Indigenous Peoples, the Organization for the Victory of the People, We The People (Gen Z Youth Movement), and individuals Charlene Wilkinson, Danuta Radzik, Laura George and Sherlina Nageer.
The groups warned that the Commission's handling of the investigation will have consequences far beyond the final report, affecting public trust in the institutions charged with maritime safety and accountability in Guyana.
FAQ
Why do civil society groups want BK International replaced?
The groups argue the MV Barima recovery requires forensic salvage expertise to preserve evidence about the sinking, and that BK International lacks the five to 10 years of regional salvage experience the tender required.
Who are the officials the coalition wants placed on administrative leave?
Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar, MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas, Transport and Harbours Department General Manager Yolanda Hughes Smith, and Board Chairperson Rosalinda Rasul.
How much is the MV Barima salvage contract worth?
BK International won the contract with the lowest bid of $1.034 billion.