The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the MV Barima Tragedy has begun the necessary preparatory procedures, and the substantive work is expected to commence on the ground in early September.
The president was responding to questions during his press conference at the Office of the President on Tuesday, noting that the team is already in place and has started preparing for the inquiry.
“The team is in place. They have started looking at their procedures, settling their procedures and working on their work plan,” the President said.
The COI is a step by which the government reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability and ensuring that such a tragedy is never repeated. The COI fulfils a commitment made by President Ali at the outset after learning about the tragedy.
The five-member commission will be chaired by Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an Ad Hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.
The other members are:
* Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer who has advised on investigations into several major maritime disasters;
* Captain Hamada Fouda, Senior Maritime Surveyor and Compliance Auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica;
* Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, an Attorney-at-Law with expertise in Admiralty and Maritime Law; and
* Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, a maritime professional with decades of experience in maritime operations and maritime security.
The members were administered the oath of office by Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at State House in Georgetown. Justice Smith participated virtually.