The death toll from the sinking of the MV Barima has risen to 11, as search and rescue teams continue to work along the Waini River and President Irfaan Ali has ordered a formal investigation into the disaster. The order followed the arrest of two members of the vessel's crew, and comes as officials confront mounting evidence that dozens of passengers boarded the ferry without ever appearing on its official manifest.

President Ali addressed the nation in the aftermath of the sinking, setting out three commitments that will guide the government's response in the coming days. He said the immediate priority remained the rescue of any survivors still unaccounted for, followed by the recovery of the missing and continued support for grieving families. He described the loss of life as a national tragedy and asked citizens to remain patient while search operations continue.

The President travelled to the affected regions in person, visiting Mabaruma and Port Kaituma to meet those most directly affected by the disaster. At Mabaruma Regional Hospital he spoke with survivors being treated for injuries sustained during the sinking, and he later met with relatives of those still missing. A period of national mourning is expected to be declared, and the administration has called on the public to show unity as recovery efforts proceed.

The wreck of the MV Barima was located through a joint effort between local fishermen, who know the river's currents well, and the Guyana Coast Guard, which deployed vessels to assist in the search. The operation has so far confirmed 11 deaths, including the recovery of an 11th victim in recent days. Among those identified are Shivanna La Cruz Romascindo and Dwayne Forbes, whose deaths have been confirmed by authorities. Officials have said that no resources will be withheld from the continuing search for the remaining missing.

The investigation itself has centred on serious discrepancies between the ferry's official manifest and the number of people who were actually on board. According to the manifest, the MV Barima was carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew when it departed Georgetown. But of the 67 people rescued so far, the Minister of Public Works has confirmed that 32 had no record on the manifest at all. These individuals appear to have boarded the vessel without being logged, raising serious questions about how passengers were counted and verified before departure.

Cargo records are also under scrutiny. Documentation filed for the voyage stated that the vessel was carrying 268 tonnes of freight, just under its stated limit of 284 tonnes. Given the scale of the passenger discrepancy, investigators are now examining whether the cargo figures can be relied upon either, or whether the vessel was operating with inaccurate paperwork across the board.

The criminal dimension of the case has also advanced. Both the captain of the MV Barima and its first engineer have been taken into police custody. Their arrests followed positive tests for narcotics, a finding that authorities have said will form a central part of the wider investigation into how the sinking occurred. Questions over whether the crew were fit to operate the vessel, alongside the unresolved manifest discrepancies, are expected to shape the scope of the inquiry President Ali has ordered.

For now, the search continues along the Waini River, with families in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma waiting for further news. The government has not given a timeline for when the investigation will report its findings, though officials have indicated that accountability for the manifest failures and the conduct of the crew will be central to its conclusions.

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