University of Guyana Graduand Honors Father Lost in MV Barima Tragedy

According to Kaieteur News, Nasiya Siara Somra is scheduled to graduate from the University of Guyana (UG) with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship. This graduation marks the conclusion of a four-year academic period, though she wishes her father, Raymond Somra, could witness the occasion.

Raymond Somra, who worked as a seaman, was aboard the MV Barima when the vessel capsized on July 18, 2026, while traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini). Nasiya Siara Somra was a final-year student at UG’s Berbice Campus at the time of her father's death. She was pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship at the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), with only one assignment and one examination remaining to complete her degree.

Nasiya Siara Somra stated that she initially struggled to accept the news of her father being on the vessel, recalling that her grandmother was the first to inform her. She mentioned that her studies were temporarily set aside while she and her family awaited confirmation regarding her father's presence on the ship, as his body was among those not recovered.

Nasiya noted that her father, who would visit and call regularly, had expected her to transition into law, but she chose to remain in entrepreneurship. She recalled their last conversation, where her father inquired if she had obtained her driver’s license and if she was studying law, to which she replied that she was still studying entrepreneurship.

To honor her father, Nasiya Siara Somra subsequently enrolled in a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Business and International Law at UG’s Faculty of Social Sciences, Turkeyen Campus. She expressed that her father would have been proud of her achieving this degree.

Despite her grief, Nasiya managed to complete the final requirements of her degree. She reported that her family and the University of Guyana provided support during this difficult time. Mr. Jermaine Clarke, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Business Management at SEBI, helped arrange psychological support through the university, and the institution also assisted her with her examinations. Furthermore, she received assistance from the H.E.A.R.T. Initiative (Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust), a national support and recovery program initiated by President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali, and her personal support network.

Nasiya shared that while she is proud of her accomplishments, graduation will be a bittersweet moment due to her father's absence. She intends to carry a framed photograph of him during the ceremony, believing he would have celebrated her success. Additionally, she plans to establish a non-governmental organisation (NGO) or charity in his name to keep his memory alive through work that honors him. She advised other students navigating grief while pursuing education not to give up, suggesting they hold onto faith in God when they lack the strength to continue.