Guyana swears in commission to investigate deadly MV Barima sinking

What this source establishes

"The swearing-in ceremony was not open to the media but was streamed on President Irfaan Ali's social media platforms" — the closed-ceremony fact carried into regional coverage. Four commissioners took the oath at State House Thursday; chairman Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith was sworn in virtually; Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman administered the oath. Ali described the commissioners as individuals of "exceptional professional standing".

Key claims

• "The swearing-in ceremony was not open to the media but was streamed on President Irfaan Ali's social media platforms" — the closed-ceremony fact carried into regional coverage.
• Four commissioners took the oath at State House Thursday; chairman Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith was sworn in virtually; Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman administered the oath.
• Ali described the commissioners as individuals of "exceptional professional standing".
• Ali is quoted: "Even as we continue to mourn those who loss their lives and stand in solidarity with the survivors and their loved ones, we have an equal solemn duty to establish the truth. 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."
• "While the opposition has welcomed the establishment of the inquiry, it has raised concerns about the selection process for commissioners and the terms of reference. Opposition figures have also questioned whether some members of the commission have links to officials in the current administration."
• Toll given as "more than 70 people died", about 30 missing, 76 rescued — an imprecise formulation that sidesteps the 72/73 divergence.
• The captain "was recently charged along with two others on 72 counts of murder in connection with the deaths".

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