GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) investigating the MV Barima tragedy will travel to Region One next week to meet survivors and relatives of victims as it prepares to begin taking formal evidence.
The Commission is scheduled to formally open its proceedings on Wednesday, October 7, with the first sitting set for 10:00 a.m. According to Commission Secretary Javed Shadick, the Commissioners will meet families and survivors along the coast later that afternoon.
Shadick explained that the community meetings are intended as outreach sessions and will not involve the taking of formal evidence. Testimony will be recorded only when the Commission begins its official hearings.
The Commission’s schedule includes a tour of the Kingston Wharf, the Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD) and the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) on Thursday. On Friday, the Commissioners are expected to inspect two dry-dock facilities on the East Bank of Demerara.
The team will then travel to Mabaruma on Monday to inspect the waterfront facility and engage with survivors and families from surrounding communities. A similar programme will be held in Port Kaituma on Tuesday.
Several members of the Commission have specialised expertise in maritime operations and shipping. Shadick said the site visits will allow Commissioners to assess the physical conditions and facilities firsthand before relevant individuals and organisations are called to provide evidence.
More than 100 witnesses are currently expected to participate in the inquiry. They are likely to include first responders, government officials, survivors and relatives of those who died in the tragedy.
A public invitation for individuals with relevant information to come forward and testify remains open.
The Commission is also considering holding hearings outside Georgetown, including in Region One. Shadick said the level of participation during the upcoming community meetings will help determine whether hearings should be conducted in the region. Arrangements are also being made to accommodate people who do not speak English.
The inquiry was initially expected to be completed within two months, but that timeline is now expected to be extended. The Commission estimates that its final report could take approximately six months to complete after all evidence has been heard.
The Commission’s secretariat began operations on August 3, and documents submitted as part of the investigation are already being reviewed by the Commissioners. Formal hearings are expected to begin at 9:00 a.m. each day, although the schedule may be adjusted when necessary.
The five-member Commission is chaired by Belizean Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith. Its other members are naval architect and marine engineer Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland; Captain Hamada Fouda, a senior maritime surveyor and compliance auditor from Jamaica; Trinidad and Tobago attorney Nyree Dawn Alfonso, who specialises in admiralty and maritime law; and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Commission was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the capsizing and sinking of the Transport and Harbours Department-operated MV Barima on July 18, 2026. Its mandate includes determining what caused the tragedy, examining contributing factors, assessing compliance with maritime laws and operational standards, and reviewing the effectiveness of the search and rescue response.
The vessel was carrying an estimated 179 passengers and crew. According to the DPI report, 76 people were rescued, 72 bodies were recovered and 30 people remained unaccounted for.
The Commission is expected to submit its findings, observations and recommendations to President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali once the investigation is completed.