MV Barima Tragedy: What is in the Cards
The dark waters of Guyana are a symbol of life from Mother Earth. From them springs forth all that is good in that beautiful nation. But that which causes life can also provide death, especially when those deep waters are not respected. On the night of July 18, 2026, tragedy struck within these dark waters. The MV Barima, a government-owned passenger and cargo ferry, began taking on water and listing near Iron Punt. It was on its way to Port Kaituma from Georgetown when it capsized into the deep. There were reportedly 179 people aboard, including crew. Investigators have determined that the vessel listed only 133 passengers, leading to theories that the crew had allowed the boat to be overloaded while accepting bribes to allow undocumented passengers aboard. Only 69 people have been rescued. Twenty-seven bodies, including those of at least four children, have been recovered, while 83 people remain missing. With a criminal investigation ongoing, few details have emerged as to the factors that led to this tragedy.
I performed a Tarot reading in which the cards reveal an upside-down situation, with most of the cards coming out in reverse. The first card I pulled related to the heart of the matter. The Page of Cups came out, revealing that this was a tragedy in which the government of Guyana’s focus may have been misplaced leading up to the events that caused it. The Page of Cups reveals a government focused on the arts, culture, beauty, architecture, festivals, public ceremonies, and national image. It reflects leadership placing importance on emotional connection to the citizens, diplomacy, reconciliation, and soft power. The Page isn’t a King, a Queen, or even an Emperor. Ultimately, the Page of Cups shows the immaturity and naivete of mistaking good intentions for strong governance.
Behind this Page came the Magician in reverse. This is an energy that symbolizes a government that acts as a Page of Cups out of fear. It is a fear that they lack the resources, ability, or depth to truly govern the nation of Guyana. Supporting all of this is the energy of the Strength card in reverse. This means the leadership is in a constant struggle over power. They are overwhelmed, inconsistent, and corrupt. It would appear that the MV Barima tragedy was a direct result of an immature government operating out of fear while the leadership battles behind the scenes for power and remains inconsistent and corrupt.
The card that came out for what would aid the nation in this time of shock and mourning is the Hierophant. The word Hierophant means holy in the ancient Greek language. The appearance of this card means the government of Guyana needs to turn to a high level of leadership that not only governs according to man’s law but also reflects what is good and right within the law of the universe. The corruption and immature games that have placated the world up to this point need to be put down. The leadership of Guyana needs to get right with God and lead without bias through strength and honesty.
The Empress card coming out in reverse is a call for the government to tackle the neglect, empty promises, corruption, and counterproductive manner in which the nation has been operating up to this point head-on. This has caused the citizens of Guyana to live without some of their greatest desires. The Four of Pentacles in reverse showed these desires being ignored. The people are longing for a government that handles its power responsibly, with fairness and conscientiousness. The MV Barima tragedy is revealing to the world, through the King of Pentacles in reverse, that the government has abused its power through corruption for far too long. Even its response has been belligerent, with threats being sent to social media platforms instead of focusing on the responsibilities at hand. Things are not looking good for the people of Guyana. The cards are revealing very dark leadership in government, darker than the life-giving waters the nation prides itself on.