Holness and CARICOM extend sympathy after Guyana ferry capsizes and St Lucia boat crash

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has conveyed Jamaica’s sympathy to the Guyanese government and public after the passenger ferry MV Barima overturned with 116 passengers and a crew of 17 aboard.

“I am deeply saddened by the capsizing of the MV Barima and the distress this incident has caused,” Holness said in a statement on social media. “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 especially to the families and loved ones of those affected.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this event, as well as the brave rescue teams who continue their efforts with dedication and courage.

“We pray for strength and comfort for all those affected.”

CARICOM likewise said it was “deeply saddened” by the ferry disaster and that it was monitoring the search-and-rescue operation aimed at accounting for every passenger and crew member. The bloc offered prayers and backing to relatives waiting for word on those still unaccounted for, and saluted the bravery, commitment and selflessness of responders at the scene.

The ferry went over on Saturday night while bound for Port Kaituma, a small community in Guyana’s Barima-Waini administrative region. Guyana’s Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said early indications pointed to a large wave as a possible trigger, though a complete inquiry is still to come.

By Sunday, rescue crews had brought 67 people to safety, among them 15 children, and were still working to locate everyone who had been on the vessel.

Edghill dismissed claims that the ferry was overcrowded or had mechanical failures, noting that the MV Barima held licences allowing far higher passenger and cargo loads than those present. He said initial reports implicated tidal conditions, while stressing that investigators would determine the cause.

Separately, off St Lucia’s west coast early Sunday, a crash involving two boats left at least three people dead, several hurt and one person unaccounted for. The vessels struck each other head-on in waters between Soufrière and Canaries — one sailing south, the other north.

Some passengers sustained serious harm, including fractures to arms and legs. Rescue workers found people hanging onto debris and took them to a nearby beach for care. Efforts to find the missing individual were still under way, and police had not released an official account by the time the report was published.