MV BARIMA DISTRESS: Family shattered as Herstelling woman remains missing
July 19 2026
Rona Mendonca, a 40-year-old businesswoman from Herstelling, is among the persons who were onboard the distressed MV Barima, which sank off the coast of Essequibo between July 18 and 19, 2026, while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
Her cousin, Joyita Mendonca, told BIG Smith News Watch that Rona was travelling to Region One to visit her mother and some of her siblings.
Joyita said Rona regularly travelled between Georgetown and Kumaka, Region One, to conduct business, carrying goods from town to sell and bringing back items from Kumaka for resale.
She said Rona was accompanied by her son, Jason Henry, during the voyage, but expressed relief that he survived the ordeal and is doing well.
Rona’s sister Verona even went to Charity trying to see if she had already made it to the region but found no sign of her…
“This pain shattered this entire family,” Joyita said.
