By Vishnu Bisram (Reporter with over decades of experience)
In Queens Village, Hollis, Jamaica, Briarwood, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach, and surrounding areas of Queens, NY, the sunken ferry, MV Barima, and the fate of the passengers have been the talk among Guyanese. Early Sunday, news was slow in coming in as people (in Guyana and the diaspora) learned with shock and profound sorrow of the unfortunate sinking of the ferry. There are some one million Guyanese in USA. Sunday is usually a day for prayers among the large diaspora especially Hindus and Christians who congregated for early morning prayers. This writer worshipped at several Guyanese mandirs in Queens Sunday morning July 19. Sadness was on the face and in voice of everyone engaged or seen. It probably would have been the same at churches and masjids among those in the know that early Sunday morning. Richmond Hill and Little Guyana in Queens has been a close knit family with Guyanese in support of one another in cases of tragedies and disasters. The ferry mishap was also the talk among Guyanese on the phone and in street conversations.
Guyanese everywhere expressed shock and grief and pray for the victims. It probably has been the same in other parts of the diaspora such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Schenectady, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, etc. that Sunday and the days that followed. Phone calls on Sunday and Monday from other parts of USA, London, and Canada queried about what really happened. On Sunday, they asked if all passengers were safe. At the several Mandirs I visited in Queens, people talked about the mishap. Pandits offered prayer that all lives are safe. On a Radio Program between 11 AM and 12 noon hosted by well-known radio personality and Indian cultural promoter Jaskaran (Jass) Persaud, regular programming was interrupted with announcement about the mishap by Dr Tara Singh. Jass was awaked by news from this writer about the mishap. On the radio, support was expressed for the victims and prayers by Jass and Dr Singh for rescue operations that were underway. Dr. Singh also pledged support, solidarity, and assistance from the NY based diaspora.
On Sunday, several people on the phone and in person asked this writer what happened and how? Were lives lost? Phone was ringing non stop as though I was some kind of information officer or news wire. Information has been slow and limited in coming. Everyone wished the government and rescuers well.
I wish to extend deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the families, and I pray for the best for the missing, the rescued, and the injured. And I thank the many volunteers and first responders involved in the rescue operations. I express deep sorrow and sadness over the loss of lives, vehicles, cargo and property.