A five-member international and independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) will be established to investigate every aspect of the MV Barima tragedy, including the vessel’s seaworthiness, possible negligence, the conduct of the crew and the effectiveness of the search, rescue and recovery operation, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced in a national address on Saturday.
President Ali said the members of the commission will be announced on Sunday, 26 July, though he did not disclose their identities. “I shall, tomorrow, the 26th of July, 2026, announce a five-member team to constitute that commission,” he said.
He said the commission will comprise distinguished experts and professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in law, marine engineering, maritime safety and disaster investigation, and that members were selected for their independence, technical expertise and proven ability.
President Ali said the commission will determine its own procedures and method of work while conducting a thorough, impartial examination of the tragedy, including the circumstances leading to the capsizing and sinking of the vessel, the response efforts and all related matters.
Its mandate extends beyond determining how the vessel sank. The inquiry will examine the loading of the vessel, passenger boarding procedures, conditions on board, the vessel’s seaworthiness, maintenance history, compliance with maritime laws and safety standards, the conduct and competence of the master and crew, passenger management, lifesaving arrangements, and the role of weather, sea conditions and other operational factors.
The commission will also review the search, rescue and recovery operation, assessing the adequacy, coordination and effectiveness of the response by all agencies and stakeholders involved.
President Ali said the inquiry will have broad powers to determine whether negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty or institutional failures contributed to or caused the tragedy. “The commission will be empowered to determine whether any acts of negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty, or institutional failures contributed to or caused this tragedy, and to recommend any legislative, regulatory, institutional, or operational reforms necessary to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
He added that the commission’s work will seek to identify shortcomings or failures, recommend accountability where warranted and propose reforms to strengthen the safety and reliability of Guyana’s maritime transportation system.
President Ali also appealed for continued support for the families of those affected by the tragedy. “As we continue to navigate this difficult period in our history, I ask for our continued prayers, our continued love, unconditional love, and support for the families, survivors, as a nation, as a people. Let us rise on this occasion together in love, unity, prayers, and faith,” he said.
The commission is expected to be formally announced on Sunday, when the identities of its five members will be revealed. Once established, the body is expected to independently determine the causes of the disaster, examine the national response and recommend measures to improve maritime safety and help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
