Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) staged a protest in the National Assembly on Monday afternoon, chanting for the dismissal of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar over the MV Barima tragedy, while the government pressed ahead with its legislative agenda.
The MV Barima tragedy was a disaster involving the passenger and cargo ferry MV Barima, which capsized and sank late Saturday night on July 18, 2026, while traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
As the sitting got underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, opposition MPs repeatedly shouted, “Who must go? Edghill and Indar!” in the aftermath of the incident, which has claimed scores of lives.
The demonstration came amid growing calls for political accountability, despite President Irfaan Ali’s announcement of a commission of inquiry (CoI) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disaster. Guyana has legislation that provides for the appointment of CoIs by the President to interrogate matters of import.
Throughout the sitting, opposition MPs did not participate in the formal proceedings, instead shouting in the center of the chamber as the agenda was dealt with.
The National Assembly approved approximately US$1.13 billion (GY$54.9 billion) in supplementary appropriations to support the government’s 2026 agenda.
The allocations included funding for the Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Among the largest allocations was approximately US$220.6 million (GY$10.7 billion) to support the Gas-to-Energy project at Wales, which is expected to begin initial operations by the end of 2026, with full commissioning expected in 2027.
With opposition MPs continuing their protest, formal comment on the supplementary appropriations was limited to the government side before the spending was approved.
The Assembly also proceeded with several bills on the agenda, including the Guyana Development Bank Bill. The legislation is meant to establish a legal framework for the creation of a national development bank intended to expand financing for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Bill was passed and must next be assented to by President Irfaan Ali.
Edghill and Indar have become the focus of public criticism following the MV Barima tragedy because of their ministerial responsibilities relating to the maritime transport sector. Edghill currently serves as Minister of Public Works, while Indar is Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation. During the government’s previous term, both served within the Ministry of Public Works, with Edghill as the senior minister and Indar as a minister within the ministry.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips has acknowledged the growing public calls for Edghill’s dismissal but has maintained that any decision on the minister’s future rests with President Irfaan Ali. Speaking at a recent press conference, Phillips stressed that Edghill was appointed by the President and that only the President has the authority to determine whether he remains in office.
