Opposition Leader has doubts over MV Barima inquiry commissioners

What this source establishes

Published Friday 31 July 2026, 2:15 AM GMT-4, bylined Staff Editor. Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed called on the government "to immediately release its full terms of reference" for the Commission — establishing that as of 31 July the ToR had not been published. Mohamed is quoted: "Now that the commissioners have been named and sworn in, I am disappointed, as Leader of the Opposition, that I was not consulted on their appointment," and on the closed ceremony: "The government does not want us to scrutinise the co

Key claims

• Published Friday 31 July 2026, 2:15 AM GMT-4, bylined Staff Editor.
• Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed called on the government "to immediately release its full terms of reference" for the Commission — establishing that as of 31 July the ToR had not been published.
• Mohamed is quoted: "Now that the commissioners have been named and sworn in, I am disappointed, as Leader of the Opposition, that I was not consulted on their appointment," and on the closed ceremony: "The government does not want us to scrutinise the commissioners."
• [ALLEGATION] Mohamed alleges Commissioner Captain Hamada Fouda has business interests in Guyana, "including involvement with a maritime training institution at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, and the Layali restaurant at the Pegasus Hotel", that he is close to the President, and that he played a part in selecting other commissioners. Unproven.
• [SINGLE SOURCE] Kiskadee Watch documents its own attempts to verify: emails to Miranda Thakur-Deen of the Atlantic Alliance Maritime and Offshore Training Institute (AAMOTI) asking whether Captain Hassan Fouda is the son of Commissioner Hamada Fouda and whether either had involvement with the MV Barima, its operators, inspections, crew training or certification — "No response has been received."
• [SINGLE SOURCE] The paper contacted Suelle Findlay-Williams, head of the President's Press Unit, who ultimately said: "Regrettably, my department has not yet been furnished with the contact details. I am sorry, but I am unable to assist at this time."
• [ALLEGATION] Mohamed questions a professional connection between Commissioner Nyree Dawn Alfonso and Minister of Labour Keoma Griffith, citing the website of N. D. Alfonso & Company which had identified Griffith as the firm's Guyana correspondent. "Griffith has not responded" to questions including why his photograph had been removed from the site.
• Mohamed on the ministers: "They both should be sent home pending the outcome of this inquiry and make themselves fully available to answer any questions the commission may have."
• Mohamed on payments: "No family should be pressured into signing any document or forced to accept any meagre sum of money."
• [SINGLE SOURCE] The article sets out ToR content as reported: "the ferry's loading, passenger-boarding procedures, seaworthiness, maintenance, the competence of the crew, compliance with maritime regulations and the emergency response", plus whether "negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty or institutional failures contributed". It also records that Ali said "the commissioners would determine their own procedures".

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