Pres. Ali names 5-member COI to investigate MV Barima disaster

What this source establishes

Reports President Ali's naming of a five-member Commission of Inquiry: Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize as chair, Dr Andrzej Jasionowski, Capt. Hamada Fouda, Nyree Dawn Alfonso and Rear Admiral (Ret'd) Hayden A. Pritchard. States Smith previously served on the COI into Guyana's 2 March 2020 elections, and quotes Ali that the legal instruments are “currently being formalised”. Gives 179 aboard, 76 rescued, 73 bodies recovered, at least 30 unaccounted for. Records Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed's, APNU's and Dr Terrence Campbell's objections to the absence of consultation.

Key claims

• THIRD independent source naming all five commissioners, after the Guyana Chronicle and Kiskadee Watch
• Chair Godfrey Smith previously served on the Commission of Inquiry into Guyana's disputed 2 March 2020 general elections
• Ali states the legal instruments are 'currently being formalised' - as of 27 July nothing is gazetted
• Campbell characterises the sinking as the biggest disaster in Guyana's history from a single event, distinguishing it from Jonestown on the ground that few of those victims were Guyanese

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