The chairman and members of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sinking of the MV Barima were formally sworn in on Thursday, tasked with determining the causes of one of Guyana’s worst maritime tragedies.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali established the five-member commission, which 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. Justice Smith took part in the swearing-in virtually.
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 security.
Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman administered the oath of office at State House in Georgetown.
The CoI was established under Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the capsizing and sinking of the MV Barima, owned and operated by the Transport and Harbours Department, on the night of July 18, 2026.
Of the estimated 179 passengers and crew aboard, 72 bodies were recovered, 30 could not be accounted for and 76 were rescued.
The commission has been given a broad mandate to determine the facts surrounding the sinking, identify its causes and contributing factors, assess compliance with maritime laws and operational standards, and review the effectiveness of the search operation, among other areas. It is expected to submit its findings, observations and recommendations to Ali upon completion of its work.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ali said the families of those who died deserved answers and that lessons from the tragedy needed to be learned for future generations.
Ali said the commission’s composition reflected the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality, noting that the commissioners collectively possess internationally recognised expertise in law, marine engineering, maritime operations, maritime regulation and disaster investigations. He said the government would provide all administrative, technical, financial and logistical support required for a comprehensive and independent investigation. (DPI)
