a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the exact number of missing persons due to what government officials call “criminal” discrepancies in the ship’s official manifest. At a press conference held more than 18 hours after the disaster, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, acting as head of state and commander of the armed forces, confirmed that two bodies have been recovered so far. However, with dozens still unaccounted for, the ultimate death toll remains grimly unpredictable. The MV Barima, an “old” vessel that was last dry-docked in 2024, departed the Port of Georgetown at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026. It was bound for Port Kaituma in the Northwest District, heavily laden with 268 tons of cargo, 17 crew members, and an official manifest listing 116 passengers. Disaster struck just before midnight. At approximately 11:00 p.m., the Timehri control tower picked up a frantic distress signal from the vessel. Simultaneously, desperate voice notes from terrified passengers began circulating through local networks. Reports indicate the vessel began listing heavily to one side and capsised rapidly, settling roughly seven miles offshore in the vicinity of Iron Punt and the Pomeroon River. (Kaieteurnews)