The captain of the sunken MV Barima ferry was allegedly under the influence of marijuana while in command, officials revealed Sunday night, as authorities scrambled to determine how many passengers were actually aboard after discovering the ship’s manifest was widely inaccurate.<\/p>\n
Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill confirmed search efforts are being led by the Guyana Coast Guard, supported by the Guyana Defence Force and private partners, with 15 boats, divers, and sonar equipment deployed since a distress signal was received Saturday night. The operation has been complicated by the discovery that dozens of rescued passengers were never listed on the manifest. Edghill stated, ‘We don’t really know the real number right now,’ revealing more than 116 people have been aboard, with over 66 unaccounted for by Sunday sunset.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed that rescued crew members, including the captain, tested positive for cannabis. The ferry, carrying 17 crew members, was en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma in the Essequibo region. Several bodies have been recovered, and the public is urged to contact emergency family assistance centres or the emergency hotline to help identify unlisted passengers.<\/p>\n
ExxonMobil and the Caribbean Regional Security System are assisting with vessels, divers, and aircraft. Trinidad and Tobago has deployed its Coast Guard and surveillance aircraft to Guyana to aid in search and rescue operations. Search efforts continue for as long as necessary.<\/p>\n