A night of prayer in memory of the victims of the M.V. Barima ferry that capsized off the coast of Guyana on July 18 was hosted by the Consulate General of Guyana, and the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations, last Friday, and attended by expatriates and friends.

The hours-long poignant event of reflections, heartfelt musical rendition, the lighting of candles, a minute of silence, and the opening of a book of condolences was held at the 45th Street Guyana Consulate to New York on July 24.

“The Guyanese American community of New York is foremost in my thoughts, as news of the MV Barima tragedy continues to reach us," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York said in a statement read by New York State Assembly District 24-B Queens District Leader Rhonda Binda. "This ferry, carrying families home from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, has become the site of one of Guyana’s deadliest maritime disasters - and I know the weight of that loss is being felt deeply in every household and community across this city."

Schumer added: “To every family still awaiting word on a missing loved one, to every community gathering in vigil, and to all who call Guyana home no matter how far from it you now live, please know that you are not alone in this. I am thinking of the passengers, the crew, and the rescuers who worked through the night in service of their neighbors, and I hold space for the grief this moment demands."

State Senator Roxanne Persaud, who represents the 19th District in Brooklyn, encouraged Guyanese to participate in all events taking place, and to support families as they grieve nationals lost at sea.

“This does not happen in Guyana," said Persaud, who applauded Consulate General and Ambassador Brotherson for bringing nationals together to grieve.. "How do we deal with this tragedy; how do we come together as Guyanese and grieve? How do we show the people who are suffering in our homeland, that we are there with them, and we can offer them emotional support, even though we are so far away," said Senator Persaud in a deeply moving message.

Persaud added: “Let us continue to pray. Put aside our differences as Guyanese. Let's hold hands and help each other to show that we can come through the pain we are feeling. There is no one that can say they are not touched by this tragedy. Pray that everyone that was on that ferry is accounted for so that their families could have closure. Let’s pray that this tragedy never happens again."

Ambassador Brotherson, in turn, acknowledged members of the audience, including Ambassador Trishala Persaud, Advisor, Investments & Diaspora Affairs, Fazal Yussuff.

“We pay service and homage to our fallen nationals," Brotherson said. "We seek divine intervention; that is why this is a night of prayer and we’ve invited members of our religious community who are here in their numbers to help us to deal with the tragedy that has struck our nation and the grief that engulfs us now.”

Brotherson added: “At the level of the presidency, His Excellency President Irfaan Ali has been leading the nation in this tragic moment. When one listens to him, his grief resonates. That is why an occasion like this is reflective of what’s happening at home. I appreciate that all of you have chosen to be here tonight, so that we can share our religious ideas, and thoughts and help to bring comfort to others in Guyana who are suffering because of the tragedy that has befallen our nation."

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Burkett, who hails from the community where the tragic event took place, and where 65 bodies were recovered and 76 were rescued, called for betterment in transport and systems.

"If we do not learn from this tragedy, and it happens again, that would be the only thing worse that this," Rodrigues-Burkett warned.

The diplomat said there were heroes in the tragedy, like someone who helped to save another, but died in the process. She shared that she listened to moments told to her by relatives, of joy, that ended with pain and agony, such as the two teenagers who held on to each other, as one sang to give her friend confidence that they would live.

“To children, who were happy to go on vacation to another part of the country, or go home to be with relatives, looking forward, as children do, to climbing trees and playing games, but what they met was a dark place," Rodrigues-Burkett said.

Among the victims, she recalled a relative who was going home to Smith’s Creek in the northwest with her husband and three children after spending nine years on the East Coast.

“So many children. It is very hard for us, said Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett with pain and sadness in her voice.

“Let us come together as a people," she added. "I have seen sometimes, tragedies like this are used for different reasons, but I think we have to use this for good reasons to make our country better, and to help soothe the pain of the people who are suffering. This is the worst tragedy that has befallen our country in recent times. I can’t imagine anything like this happening again.

Rodrigues-Burkett underscored the point that President Ali has vowed to complete a full investigation into the tragedy.

“As your permanent representative of Guyana to the UN, and someone who is from this region, and all of us who would have traversed these places, we have a contribution to make when we travel," she said. "We must not accept mediocracy, because I have seen people go on speedboats and refuse to wear life jackets. Boats must not depart without this safety measure in place. Protocols must be improved."

At the solemn gathering, rendered with the mournful singing of “Amazing Grace” and a patriotic edition of “Hymn for Guyana’s Children” by soloist  Jevanah La Rose, individuals bowed their heads as Reverend Cecil Moonsammy, Hindu Priest Navesh Ramsarran, Imam Shaykh Raihaan Habibulla, and Pandit Ravi Dooby offered fervent prayers for the dearly departed, survivors, and the homeland.

In spiritual reflections, Reverend Dr. Carl E. Stuart, whose mother hails from Essequibo, read from the bible, saying we ought to mourn with those who mourn, reading from Revelations 21.

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth were passed away, and there was more sea," Stuart said. “And I heard a great voice of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, women, and children, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

A heartening message was also voiced by Imam Shaykh Safraz Bacchus.

“There are no perfect words, no speech can fill an empty chair, no sentence can erase heartbreak," Bacchus said. "Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer someone is simply our presence. To sit beside them, to listen, cry with them, remind them that they are not walking this difficult road alone. Healing takes time."

He prayed for healing, the strengthening of every weary soul, and blessings for the families affected by the tragedy during the uplifting remembrance, emceed by staff member Jeff McNaughton, and attended by CARICOM Consular Corps Consul General of St. Lucia Jeremiah Hyacinth, Consul General of Dominica Representative Sheldon Peter Anthony, and many others.