Survivors and relatives of those who lost loved ones in the MV Barima tragedy travelled from across the country to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Wednesday to meet with the commissioners investigating the July 18 disaster.
An estimated 120 survivors and family members, including elderly persons and parents accompanied by young children, attended the engagement to share their experiences, grief and concerns with the five-member Commission of Inquiry (COI).
The meeting formed part of the Commission’s outreach programme ahead of the start of formal evidence-taking on October 14. More than 100 witnesses are expected to participate in the inquiry, which will examine the circumstances surrounding the vessel’s sinking and whether failures in operations, regulation, safety or other areas contributed to the tragedy.
Families given opportunity to speak
Commission Chairman Justice Godfrey P. Smith and the other commissioners engaged directly with survivors and relatives during the three-hour session.
Justice Smith has pledged that the inquiry will be conducted independently and without a predetermined conclusion, stating that the Commission would follow the evidence wherever it leads.
The Commission is expected to examine the vessel’s seaworthiness, passenger and cargo operations, crew qualifications and conduct, search-and-rescue efforts, regulatory oversight and other factors surrounding the disaster.
The emotional nature of the engagement was evident at its conclusion, with several relatives embracing commissioners and some breaking down in tears as they were comforted.
Political tensions emerge
The meeting also became the centre of a political dispute after five WIN parliamentarians, including Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, attended the gathering.
According to the Department of Public Information, the MPs were not invited to the family engagement and sought to raise political concerns during a meeting intended primarily for survivors and bereaved relatives.
The incident prompted criticism from government officials, who accused the opposition representatives of shifting attention away from the families and using the gathering to raise partisan issues.
WIN’s participation, however, occurred against the wider backdrop of opposition concerns about the Commission, including questions previously raised about the inquiry’s composition, terms of reference and the need for transparency.
Commission says evidence will determine its course
Justice Smith told reporters that the Commission welcomes scrutiny and would remain open to questioning from affected families and the wider public.
He also indicated that the commissioners would not prejudge who should appear before the inquiry.
The Commission has expressed interest in hearing from the vessel’s captain and other crew members, although three personnel have been charged in connection with the deaths and their participation must be considered in light of their legal rights.
The inquiry is also preparing for the possible recovery of the sunken vessel. Commissioner Dr Andrzej Jasionowski disclosed that BK International had been identified as the preferred bidder for the salvage operation and that the recovery would need to be carefully executed to preserve potential evidence.
Formal hearings begin October 14
The Commission will move from community and family engagements to formal evidence-taking on October 14 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
The Commission Secretariat has said arrangements are being made to ensure survivors, witnesses and relatives are not financially burdened by participating. Depending on where witnesses are located, the Commission may travel to communities or bring individuals to Georgetown, with related expenses to be covered.
The Commission’s work is expected to continue for several months as it gathers testimony and examines the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
For the families who gathered in Georgetown on Wednesday, however, the immediate priority remained personal: being heard, sharing their experiences and seeking answers about the loss of their loved ones.