The National Assembly descended into a loud, sustained protest on Monday as Opposition Members of Parliament intensified demands for the resignations of two Government ministers over the MV Barima tragedy.
Despite the disruption, the Government proceeded with parliamentary business, using its parliamentary majority to approve a G$54.9 billion supplementary budget.
The dramatic scenes unfolded inside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where Opposition MPs repeatedly demanded the resignation of Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, accusing the Government of failing the victims of the ferry disaster.
The protest spilled over from outside the Parliament building into the Assembly chamber after Opposition MPs and supporters gathered ahead of the sitting, chanting, “Edghill must go” and “Indar must go” as ministers arrived.
Inside the House, the demonstration intensified during Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall’s delivery of a message from President Dr Irfaan Ali on the MV Barima tragedy.
Despite being drowned out by chants from the Opposition benches, the Attorney General continued reading the President’s address, in which the Head of State called for national unity in the wake of one of Guyana’s deadliest maritime disasters.
“Our nation today bleeds from the calamitous loss of so many of our sons and daughters… This tragedy has shaken our Republic to its very foundation,” the President’s message stated.
As the chanting grew louder, Opposition MPs left their seats and advanced towards the Attorney General while continuing to demand the removal of the two Government ministers. Government MPs responded by standing around the Attorney General as he continued reading the President’s message.
Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir repeatedly appealed for order and, at one stage, suspended the sitting for five minutes, but the protest resumed once proceedings restarted.
In the President’s message, the Government pledged continued support for survivors and the families of those who lost loved ones, while assuring that the Commission of Inquiry into the disaster would leave “no stone unturned”.
Outside the Assembly before the sitting, Opposition parliamentarians said accountability must come before any investigation.
APNU Member of Parliament Vinceroy Jordan accused the Government of refusing to accept responsibility for the tragedy.
“We are here today protesting and calling for Edghill and Indar to go. Both ministers have failed all of Guyana… We will not sit idly by and allow Edghill and Indar to walk into the National Assembly today and operate as if it’s business as usual.”
MP Sharma Solomon also questioned the vessel’s condition and the circumstances under which passengers travelled.
“We are out here to call for the most basic thing that is necessary in this crisis, which is accountability… to ask for the ministers to go.”
Despite the disruptions, the Government proceeded with parliamentary business and secured approval for the G$54.9 billion supplementary budget.
The additional spending package includes more than G$50.1 billion in capital expenditure and approximately G$4.7 billion in current expenditure.
Among the major allocations approved were G$19.1 billion for the Office of the Prime Minister, including funding for the Gas-to-Energy Project; G$17.5 billion for the Ministry of Housing’s accelerated housing programme; G$8.5 billion for the Ministry of Public Works, including roads and drainage projects; and G$8.3 billion for the Ministry of Agriculture, including G$3 billion for GuySuCo to facilitate retroactive payments to workers.
Additional funding was also approved for rice development, drainage and irrigation works, coastal airstrip maintenance, water interventions and the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit.
