Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize and four commissioners were today sworn in to lead the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly MV Barima tragedy, with President Irfaan Ali saying the nation deserves “a full, fair and impartial account” of what happened and what must be done to prevent a similar disaster.
The oath of office was administered by Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at State House. Justice Smith, who was not yet in Guyana, took his oath virtually, while the other commissioners were sworn in in person.
The commission comprises Justice Smith as chairman, Captain Hamada Fouda of Jamaica, Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, Polish forensic naval architect and marine engineer Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski, and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago. The five-member panel was appointed by the President under the Commissions of Inquiry Act.
Addressing the ceremony, Ali said the Commission had been established to determine the truth behind the events of July 18, when the state-owned ferry capsized during a voyage from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
“That tragedy brought immeasurable grief to families, communities and to our entire country,” he said, adding, “Our nation deserves a full, fair and impartial account of what occurred, why it occurred, and what must be done to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.”
He said the Commission had been given a comprehensive mandate to establish the facts surrounding the disaster, examine its causes and contributing factors, assess compliance with maritime laws and operational standards, evaluate the search, rescue and recovery operation, identify any shortcomings or failures and recommend reforms to strengthen Guyana’s maritime transportation system. “The families who have suffered unimaginable loss await these answers. Future generations deserve the assurance that every lesson that can be learned from this tragedy will indeed be learned,” Ali said.
The President also mentioned that the commissioners would determine their own procedures and conduct the inquiry independently, while assuring them of the government’s full administrative, technical, financial and logistical support.
Justice Smith is a former Belizean Justice of Appeal who currently serves as CARICOM’s High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice. The other commissioners bring expertise in maritime surveying, admiralty law, naval architecture, marine engineering and maritime security.
The Commission of Inquiry was announced by Ali on July 26 amid mounting public and political calls for an independent investigation into one of Guyana’s worst maritime disasters. Its terms of reference include examining the vessel’s loading, passenger boarding procedures, seaworthiness, maintenance history, crew competence, compliance with maritime regulations and the effectiveness of the emergency response, while determining whether negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty or institutional failures contributed to the tragedy.
The tragedy has since led to criminal charges against the vessel’s captain and two crew members.
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