Pres. Ali to unveil 5-member Int'l COI today to probe MV Barima disaster

What this source establishes

Kaieteur News reports that President Irfaan Ali is expected to announce a five-member commission of inquiry on 26 July, one week after the MV Barima capsized. It sets out the scope Ali announced on Saturday 25 July: vessel loading, boarding procedures, seaworthiness, maintenance history, compliance with maritime law, conduct of master and crew, lifesaving arrangements, weather, and a review of the search and rescue response. The commission is to be empowered to find negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty or institutional failure and to recommend reforms. The report carries the first detailed opposition rejections, from Azruddin Mohamed and APNU, over non-consultation and the retention of Ministers Edghill and Indar.

Figures cited in this source

73 dead so far; families still hoping to locate loved ones

Key claims

• President Irfaan Ali is expected to announce a five-member commission on 26 July to probe the 18 July capsizing of the MV Barima, which has so far claimed 73 lives.
• Ali said in a statement on Saturday afternoon that the commission will be named in keeping with his commitment to an 'international and independent' commission of inquiry.
• Ali said the commission will comprise experts in law, marine engineering, maritime safety and disaster investigation, 'carefully selected for their independence, technical expertise, and proven ability'.
• The Commission will be responsible for determining its own procedures and method of work, according to the President.
• The Commission will examine loading of the vessel, passenger boarding procedures, conditions on board, seaworthiness, maintenance history, compliance with maritime laws and safety standards, conduct and competence of the master and crew, passenger management and lifesaving arrangements, and the role of weather and sea conditions.
• The Commission will review the search, rescue and recovery operations, assessing adequacy, coordination and effectiveness of the response by all agencies.
• The Commission will be empowered to determine whether negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty, or institutional failures contributed to or caused the tragedy.
• Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed said neither he nor any parliamentary opposition party was consulted in establishing the Commission.
• Mohamed said Ministers Juan Edghill (Public Works) and Deodat Indar (Public Utilities and Aviation), whose ministries have responsibility for MARAD and the THD, should be recused from any involvement while the inquiry is ongoing and should be required to appear before the Commission.
• Mohamed, leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, said reports for previous COIs have been hidden from the public and called for the full inquiry to be livestreamed and the full final report released.
• Mohamed suggested Guyana, as an IMO member, should seek the involvement of international maritime experts and institutions.
• APNU expressed concern that the President did not send Ministers Edghill and Indar on administrative leave pending the outcome of the inquiry.
• APNU said the Commission was selected solely by the Head of State, contrary to widespread calls from civil society and the opposition for an inclusive process.
• APNU said excluding the opposition 'creates the unfortunate perception that this exercise is designed to manage public outrage rather than establish the full truth'.
• APNU reiterated calls for Edghill and Indar to be sent home, for meaningful consultation with the opposition on commission members and terms of reference, and for full public disclosure of maintenance records, inspection reports and communications relating to the MV Barima.

Quotations

• “The members have been carefully selected for their independence, technical expertise, and proven ability.”— Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana
• “Given the magnitude of this national tragedy, I am disappointed that neither I, as Leader of the Opposition, nor any parliamentary opposition party was consulted in the establishment of the Commission.”— Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the Opposition and leader of WIN
• “excluding the opposition from the process undermines that confidence from the outset and creates the unfortunate perception that this exercise is designed to manage public outrage rather than establish the full truth”— A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), statement

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