The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the July 18 MV Barima tragedy has paused its oral hearings for two weeks. Hearings will resume on Tuesday, November 10.
During the break, the COI’s Secretariat will gather more evidence and witness statements, particularly from survivors.
The COI’s Chair, Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, said the Commission felt it would be more helpful for the Secretariat to visit survivors in their own communities, “where they perhaps are more comfortable,” to take their statements.
Justice Smith stressed that the pause does not mean the inquiry has stopped its work.
“The fact that we pause oral hearings does not mean that the work of the commission comes to a standstill. The hearing of oral evidence is only one part of our work,” he said at the end of the seventh day of public hearings at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
The Commission has heard oral testimonies from 33 witnesses. They include first responders from the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard and Air Corps. Officials of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) have also testified.
Justice Smith said their evidence came with documents “at least one foot in height, if not more,” which commissioners will now be reading and processing.
“We wish to assure those present and members of the public that notwithstanding the pause in oral testimony, the work of the commission will continue apace,” he said.
The Commission said changes or any new developments will be shared with the media and the public through the Secretariat.
The Presidential COI is investigating the capsizing of the state-owned ferry MV Barima on July 18, 2026. The ferry was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. Its terms of reference include looking at the cause of the incident, whether maritime laws were followed, and how the search and rescue operation was carried out.
DPI
