A Call for the Immediate Resignation of the Minister of Public Works

The people of Guyana have endured one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in our nation's recent history. The MV Barima tragedy has left families devastated, loved ones lost, communities grieving, and an entire nation searching for answers. No words can adequately express the pain experienced by those who have lost mothers, fathers, children, siblings, relatives, and friends.

Public office is a sacred trust. Those entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing our nation's infrastructure and transportation systems must be held to the highest standards of competence, accountability, transparency, and leadership. When that trust is broken, accountability must follow.

This petition represents a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Juan Edghill. We believe that the Ministry has failed to provide the level of oversight, preparedness, and effective management that the people of Guyana deserve. The circumstances surrounding the MV Barima tragedy have raised profound concerns about the Minister and his ministry's stewardship and its ability to safeguard the lives of those who depend on our public transportation systems.

While the full facts should continue to be established through appropriate investigations, political accountability does not require the conclusion of every inquiry before responsibility is accepted. In every healthy democracy, ministers are expected to accept responsibility for serious failures occurring within the ministries they lead just as the accept the successes and pose for ribbon cutting ceremonies.  

For this reason, we respectfully call upon Mr. Juan Edghill to tender his resignation as Minister of Public Works with Immediate effect. 

This call is not motivated by political allegiance or partisan interest. It is motivated by a commitment to accountability, good governance, and the belief that the lives of Guyanese citizens must never be treated as expendable.

We further call on the Government of Guyana to:

- Accept the Minister's resignation or remove him from office.
- Ensure a transparent, independent, and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the MV Barima tragedy.
- Publish the findings of that investigation in full.
- Implement meaningful reforms to strengthen maritime safety, emergency preparedness, vessel oversight, and public accountability.
- Provide sustained support to the victims, survivors, and grieving families affected by this tragedy.

The signatures on this petition represent ordinary Guyanese who believe that leadership must be accompanied by responsibility, and that public officials must be accountable for the performance of the offices they hold.

The memories of those who lost their lives deserve more than condolences, they deserve action.

If you believe that accountability is essential to rebuilding public trust and preventing future tragedies, we invite you to add your name to this petition.

Sign today. Stand for accountability. Stand for safer public services. Stand for Guyana, stand for the many lives lost due to this horrendous tragedy.