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March 12, 2026
The mother of a 22-year-old crew member who died after a molasses tanker barge sank off Guyana’s East Coast of Demerara is calling for a full investigation into the incident, saying unanswered calls for help may have cost her son his life.
Ravindra Bissoondyal, also known as “Videsh,” was reported missing after the vessel sank around 0100 hrs on March 9, about 9.5 nautical miles off Buxton while transporting molasses from Berbice to Georgetown.
His body was recovered several days later following search efforts by relatives, friends and authorities. Another crew member, 52-year-old Gregory Singh, known as “Greg,” remains missing as search operations continue.
Bissoondyal’s mother, Mohini Persaud, said her son called her shortly after midnight as the vessel began taking on water.
“He called me saying the barge was sinking and that he was calling them, but nobody was responding,” Persaud said, referring to attempts to contact the tug towing the barge.
She said the family also tried to reach another captain in Georgetown to relay the distress message, but calls and radio attempts went unanswered.
During their final conversation, Persaud said her son told her that water had already begun filling the vessel.
“The last thing he said was that the water had reached his foot and he was holding on to the tow line,” she said.
The call eventually ended and subsequent attempts to reach him went straight to voicemail.
Relatives later hired a fishing boat and searched the area themselves before receiving news that a body had been found.
Authorities have not yet released full details about the circumstances surrounding the sinking, and investigations are ongoing.
Search efforts continue for Singh as relatives await further updates.
