Lighthouse Attendant Testifies to Unanswered Calls Regarding MV Barima Distress Alert

According to the Guyana Times, David Chisholm, a Lighthouse Attendant employed by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), provided testimony before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) during Day Six of public hearings. Chisholm stated that he was instructed by the Harbour Master to establish contact with the MV Barima and subsequently utilized the main radio channel to attempt communication with the vessel. Chisholm reported that despite several attempts to reach the MV Barima, there was no response.

Chisholm explained that his role as a Lighthouse Attendant involves relaying alerts or distress messages from vessels to the Maritime Rescue and Coordinating Centre (MRCC) through a designated WhatsApp channel. He recounted that on July 18, at approximately 23:01h, he received a message from the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) at the Timehri Tower, notifying him of a vessel in distress. He immediately forwarded this information to his superiors and the MRCC, specifically to Captain John Flores, the Coordinator of Emergency Operations at MARAD, and the Chief Pilot.

Chisholm further detailed that his department, which operates from the top floor of the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, typically uses channel 16 on the VHF radio for communicating with vessels. He explained the standard procedure involved calling the vessel's name and stating who was calling, such as 'MV Barima, this is the lighthouse,' expecting a reply. He confirmed that after multiple attempts to contact the MV Barima, he informed the Harbour Master via the lighthouse phone that there was no response, and he continued trying thereafter.

Chisholm, who was on duty from 20:00h on July 18 until 08:00h on July 19, noted that maintaining contact with vessels scheduled to enter harbors is part of his duties, and the Lighthouse uses an application to track vessels within the harbor. He stated that local and international vessels coming into the harbor would contact the lighthouse on the VHF radio. During his testimony, Chisholm indicated he had no further involvement in the matter once his shift concluded the following morning.

Separately, the Commission heard on Wednesday about the assistance provided to survivors after their rescue from the sea. Shemar Morrison, a MARAD pilot trainee and Officer of the Watch, informed the Commission that his crew assisted individuals already recovered by other vessels and did not directly pull anyone from the water. Morrison stated that Captain Flores of the MRCC contacted him to aid in the search and rescue mission following the MV Barima tragedy. Upon arriving at the MRCC in Kingston, Morrison was briefed and received initial coordinates on a paper chart before assembling a crew.

Before departing from the Goods Wharf in Kingston aboard the pilot boat Haiama around 01:40h on July 19, Morrison mentioned receiving instructions from both Captain Flores and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill. Morrison related that Captain Flores advised him to 'Just be safe, just do what is required,' and Minister Edghill also instructed them to 'just focus on what you doing and try not to release any pictures because we don’t want to create any stir in the media.'

Morrison indicated that they reached the search area at approximately 04:55h, though he noted encountering floating debris such as life jackets and iceboxes around 04:30h, with no humans visible. Subsequently, Morrison received a VHF call from the Harbour Master stating that he had three survivors to be transferred to the Haiama.

Upon reaching the search area, Morrison reported meeting Coast Guard vessels, fishing boats, and other craft participating in the rescue operations. He stated that at least 50 people who had been rescued by those vessels were transferred onto his boat and transported to the Pomeroon Coast Guard base. Among those rescued were the captain of the MV Barima, the first mate, and one unresponsive person. Morrison informed the Commission that upon arriving at the Pomeroon Coast Guard base around 07:30h, he met with Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony. He briefed the minister on his handling of the survivors, noting the provision of first aid blankets and the presence of one unresponsive person, before leaving to rejoin the search and rescue mission.

On July 18, the MV Barima capsized and sank off the Essequibo Coast while traveling to Port Kaituma Region One with 179 people aboard. While 76 individuals survived the accident, 73 people have been confirmed deceased, and 30 remain unaccounted for. The CoI into the MV Barima tragedy is ongoing at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Greater Georgetown.