MV Barima: Civil Society Demands Five Officials Be Sent on Leave

A coalition of Guyanese civil society organisations is demanding that Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar and three senior maritime officials be placed on administrative leave pending the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Barima.

The coalition made the demand at a press conference on Wednesday, arguing that accountability for the July 18 disaster must extend beyond the immediate circumstances of the sinking to those responsible for oversight of the country’s maritime transport system.

The other officials named are Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Director General Stephen Thomas, Transport and Harbours Department General Manager Yolanda Hughes Smith, and Transport and Harbours Department Board Chairperson Rosalinda Rasul.

The groups cited concerns about passenger facilities at Kingston Wharf and the availability of the MV Ma Lisha, which arrived in Guyana in 2023 to replace the MV Barima but, according to the release, remained unavailable to Port Kaituma residents because docking facilities were incomplete.

The coalition alleged that the public record already warranted scrutiny of the officials’ conduct. However, the Commission of Inquiry has not established responsibility, and the officials named should have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

“Stepping down from their posts is not an admission of guilt,” the coalition stated, arguing that administrative leave would demonstrate accountability while the investigation proceeds.

The organisations added that delegating authority does not absolve senior officials of responsibility for the systems under their oversight.

Commission’s Independence Questioned

The coalition also raised concerns about the inquiry’s framework, transparency and accountability to the public.

It noted that Commission Chairman, retired Justice Godfrey Smith, had said the commission would submit its final report to President Irfaan Ali, who appointed it.

While acknowledging the President’s authority under the Commissions of Inquiry Act to appoint a commission, the groups argued that the inquiry must respect constitutional protections and the principle of inclusionary democracy.

They said consultations on the commission’s composition could have strengthened public confidence, particularly among survivors and families who lost loved ones.

The coalition disclosed that on September 2 it emailed a letter to Smith and hand-delivered a copy to his office in Belize, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the inquiry’s framework, hearing procedures, the composition of its secretariat and how survivors and members of the public could submit evidence.

The organisations said the letter had not been acknowledged.

They are demanding that the final report be released immediately to the public once completed and made accessible to every citizen.

Allegations of Witness Pressure 

The coalition also expressed concern over reports alleging that witnesses were being discouraged from giving evidence and placed under pressure by commission secretary Javed Shadick.

The release did not provide independently verified details substantiating the allegations.

The groups nevertheless argued that any attempt to deter witnesses would undermine the credibility of the inquiry. They questioned Shadick’s independence, citing what they described as his support for the governing People’s Progressive Party, but did not provide evidence that his political views had affected the commission’s proceedings.

The coalition called on the commissioners to ensure that people seeking standing before the inquiry receive assistance with the application process and are encouraged to give evidence.

It also demanded access to independent legal representation, language interpretation and reimbursement of reasonable travel and accommodation costs for witnesses travelling long distances.

Demand Livestreaming

The organisations want all hearings livestreamed without delay and journalists given equal, unimpeded access, subject to restrictions ordered by a court.

They questioned the decision to allow livestreaming only after a two-hour delay, arguing that residents of Region One, other parts of Guyana and the diaspora should be able to follow proceedings in real time.

The coalition also called for clear information about hearing schedules, evidence-submission procedures and the status of submissions, along with a functioning commission website.

The groups behind the demands include the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Amerindian Peoples Association, Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples, Oil and Gas Governance Network, Organisation for the Victory of the People, Red Thread Crossroads Women’s Center, Transparency International Guyana, We The People (Gen Z Youth Movement) and individual civil society actors.

Families Deserve Answers

The demands come as the inquiry continues examining the circumstances surrounding the sinking and the response to the disaster.

The coalition said the commission must establish credibility with survivors, affected communities and families who lost loved ones. Its findings, the groups argued, will lack public confidence if witnesses face barriers to participation or the proceedings are not sufficiently transparent.

The commission has not yet determined responsibility for the sinking. The allegations raised by the coalition remain matters for investigation and response by the officials and institutions concerned.

The organisations are calling for administrative accountability, stronger protections for witnesses and public access to the final findings—measures they say are necessary to ensure the inquiry delivers answers rather than leaving families with further questions.