The Government of Guyana reported on Monday that it has rescued 69 people and recovered 27 bodies following the sinking of the MV Barima ferry, which capsized on Saturday night with 179 passengers on board, of whom 83 remain missing.
Guyana’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, with support from the French government, confirmed that the MV Barima sank on Saturday night off the North Atlantic coast after departing from Georgetown bound for Port Kaituma.
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Aviation Minister Deodat Indar confirmed that the full extraction of the ferry is underway, with positive identification of the sunken vessel’s location made after search teams received specific information from a fisherman.
Guyana’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, supported by French authorities, confirmed the vessel sank off the North Atlantic coast after departing Georgetown for Port Kaituma.
Public Works Minister Juan A. Edghill specified Sunday that the ferry departed at approximately 3:15 PM local time Saturday and that the Timheri control tower received the distress call at roughly 11:01 PM, triggering immediate emergency response measures. Edghill told media that authorities are still investigating the incident, with the preliminary account suggesting a huge wave capsized the ship.
During the day, several Caribbean leaders expressed their condolences to their Guyanese neighbors. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness remarked on social media that he is “deeply saddened” by the sinking of the MV Barima and “the distress this incident has caused.”
Similarly, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew mentioned that, like so many others across the Caribbean region, he “deeply regrets” the tragic accident.
I am deeply saddened by the capsizing of the MV Barima and the distress this incident has caused.
On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I express our solidarity with President Irfaan Ali, the Government and people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and… pic.twitter.com/r39uzFEL8c
— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) July 19, 2026
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