Belizean jurist Godfrey P Smith will chair the Commission of Inquiry into the capsizing of the MV Barima which has claimed 73 lives with dozens of others thought to be missing.
This was announced today by President Irfaan Ali.
Smith is CARICOM’s High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an Ad Hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.
The other members are:
Dr. Andre Jasionowski of Poland, a naval architect and marine engineer with experience in investigating major maritime disasters.
Captain Hamada Fouda of Jamaica, a senior maritime surveyor and compliance auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica.
Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, an attorney-at-law specializing in Admiralty and Maritime Law.
Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, a maritime operations and security expert with decades of experience.
According to President Ali, the Commission will determine its own procedures and methods of work, consistent with its mandate.
Among its key terms of reference are establishing the full circumstances surrounding the disaster, including the causes of the capsizing; reviewing the loading of the vessel, passenger boarding procedures, and onboard conditions; and examining the search, rescue and recovery operations to assess the adequacy, coordination and effectiveness of the response by all agencies involved.
The Commission will also evaluate compliance with maritime laws and operating procedures, determine whether any negligence, misconduct or dereliction of duty contributed to the tragedy, inspect the vessel’s maintenance history and seaworthiness, assess the influence of weather and other environmental factors, examine the qualifications and conduct of the captain and crew, and scrutinize passenger management, including the vessel’s manifest, possible overcrowding, cargo stowage, and the availability and use of life-saving equipment.
Additionally, the Commission has been tasked with recommending legislative, regulatory, institutional and operational reforms to strengthen maritime safety, improve emergency preparedness and reduce the likelihood of similar tragedies in the future.
President Ali said the legal instruments required to formally establish the Commission are currently being finalized, after which the inquiry will commence in accordance with the law.
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