MV Barima inquiry to hear survivors, relatives in November

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Survivors of the MV Barima tragedy and relatives of those who died are expected to testify when the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) resumes public hearings on November 10, Guyana's Attorney General Anil Nandlall has said. Nandlall said the hearings are expected to continue into December, with personnel from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) also expected to give evidence. The commission suspended oral hearings on October 22 to allow its secretariat to visit survivors in their communities and make statements in settings where they might feel more comfortable. The commission’s chair, Belizean Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith, stressed that the pause “does not mean that the work of the commission comes to a standstill”. During seven days of hearings at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the commission heard testimony from 33 witnesses, including first responders from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and Air Corps, as well as officials from MARAD and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The commissioners are now reviewing a large volume of documents submitted alongside the testimony. The commission was sworn in on July 30, 2026. Its other members are Polish physician Dr Andrzej Jasionowski, Jamaican Captain Hamada Fouda, Trinidad and Tobago attorney Nyree Dawn Alfonso, and Trinidad and Tobago Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard. The inquiry is tasked with determining the cause of the incident, examining whether maritime laws and regulations were followed, and assessing the search and rescue operation. At the conclusion of its work, the commission is to submit its findings, observations and recommendations to President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The MV Barima capsized on July 18 while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.