–allows oral evidence from witnesses without signed statements
The Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Barima has set aside four days next week for survivors and relatives of those who died or remain missing to give evidence. It has also amended its rules to allow witnesses who have yet to submit signed statements to testify in person.
In a notice issued yesterday, commission secretary Javed Shadick said Monday, November 16, has been set aside for witnesses from Regions Three and Four, and Tuesday, November 17, for those from Regions Five and Six. Witnesses from Mabaruma and its satellite villages are scheduled to testify on Wednesday, November 18, while those from Port Kaituma and its satellite villages are due on Thursday, November 19.
Under the amended rules, a witness who has not provided a signed statement may give evidence under oath or affirmation. The witness’s lawyer may lead the testimony. If the witness has no lawyer, the commissioners or counsel to the inquiry may do so.
The commissioners will decide who may question or cross-examine witnesses. A person who has not been granted standing may apply for permission to cross-examine a witness.
The secretariat will coordinate travel and other arrangements for survivors and relatives. It can be reached at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, 5-E Half Orchid Drive, Liliendaal, by email at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at 674-7473.
The notice comes after relatives in Port Kaituma and Mabaruma told Kiskadee Watch earlier this month that they had received little or no information about plans to collect statements in their communities. The commission had paused oral hearings on October 22 to gather further evidence, particularly from survivors.
Hearings resumed on Tuesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where fisherman Haresh Singh told the commission how he and his crew rescued 11 people from a life raft. Maritime Administration Department surveyor Christopher Bailey also returned to testify. He said he had identified about 16 deficiencies during a November 2025 inspection of the ferry and confirmed that he had neither recommended grounding the vessel nor conducted a follow-up inspection.
The state-owned ferry capsized and sank on the night of July 18 while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. Seventy-three bodies were recovered and dozens of people remain unaccounted for. The commission, chaired by Belizean jurist Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith, is examining the circumstances of the sinking, compliance with maritime safety requirements and the search-and-rescue response.
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