Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud says the government has significantly expanded its psychosocial support services for survivors of the MV Barima tragedy and families awaiting news of missing loved ones, pledging to provide assistance for as long as it is needed.
Speaking at Monday’s press briefing, Dr. Persaud said teams of social workers, child protection officers, psychologists and trauma counsellors were deployed from the outset of the search-and-rescue operation and have since been reinforced as the scale of the tragedy became clearer.
“There are lots of families that would have lost children and survivors too. We are ensuring that wherever they are, they are being cared for,” the minister said.
She explained that additional officers trained in grief and trauma counselling have been sent to Region One and Region Two, while support services are also being provided at hospitals and family assistance centres assisting relatives of passengers.
Dr. Persaud said the Ministry of Human Services has partnered with the Ministry of Health and the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers to strengthen the response.
Teams are also working with rescued children and their families, offering counselling both immediately after their rescue and as they return to their communities.
“The plan is to continue this process for as long as it is needed because, as you know, when there is grief and the way this tragedy has happened, we have to give that kind of support long term, and we’ve committed to doing it,” she said.
The government says the expanded counselling programme is intended to help survivors, children and bereaved families cope with the emotional and psychological impact of one of Guyana’s worst maritime disasters.