Episode Details

Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson is blasting the current government for dismantling critical safety checks that could have prevented the deadly MV Barima ferry disaster, which now claims 72 lives with many still missing. He reveals that oversight systems—once in place to monitor passenger counts, cargo, and operations—were removed without replacement, leaving the vessel vulnerable to unsafe practices. Patterson recalls how his administration hired independent inspectors to ensure proper documentation, a system later disbanded with no successor. He argues that had these checks remained, they might have halted the unsafe loading and operational failures that led to the tragedy. He also highlights how maintenance contracts with skilled firms like GNIC and Courtney Benn were withdrawn after the administration changed, jeopardizing the aging vessel’s upkeep. Now, Patterson demands an independent review of the MV Barima’s maintenance and inspection history, plus a nationwide safety overhaul for all passenger vessels—including upgraded docking facilities, a mandatory ticketing system, and a fleet renewal program to replace outdated ships.

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