COI into MV Barima tragedy: Commission to begin work today; over 100 witnesses expected to testify

…only 1 survivor steps forward so far to give evidence

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the MV Barima tragedy is set to commence its work on Wednesday, with the Commissioners expected to gather evidence and hear from witnesses as they seek to determine what led to the deadly incident.
This was revealed by Attorney-at-Law and Secretary to the MV Barima CoI, Javid Shadick, during a press briefing held on Tuesday.
He outlined the schedule for the commencement of the inquiry, which is set to begin on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, where the Commission Secretariat is based.
Proceedings will run from Mondays to Fridays, between 09:00h and 16:00h. Interpreters and counsellors will be available where necessary. The Commission has also announced the following schedule for its opening and family consultation sessions:
On October 6, 2026, the CoI officially announced its commencement via a press conference.
Today, October 7, the formal opening session of the Commission will take place, and, in the afternoon, consultation and meeting sessions will be held for families from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to meet directly with the Commission team at the ACCC at 13:00h.
On October 12, the Commission team will travel to Region One to meet with families at the Kumaka Waterfront at 10:00h. On October 13, the Commission team will continue its engagements in Region One, meeting with families at the Port Kaituma Waterfront.
At the press conference, it was also outlined that the Secretariat remains committed to providing support, guidance and logistical assistance to all families throughout the process.
The five-member Commission is chaired by Belizean Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith. Its other members are Captain Hamada Fouda, Nyree Dawn Alfonso, Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard, and Dr Andrzej Jasionowski.

Witnesses
Meanwhile, Shadick informed us that only one survivor has so far contacted the Secretariat, expressing an intention to come forward to give evidence.
“I would say now that not many persons have stepped forward. In fact, only one person has made contact with the Secretariat informing us of their intent to step forward,” he stated.
However, more than 100 witnesses are expected to give evidence under the terms of reference, including first responders, officials, survivors, and families of those who perished.
According to the Commission, the terms of reference have broadly categorised potential witnesses into three groups: first responders and officials, survivors, and families of those who perished.
When asked by Journalists about the Terms of Reference (TOR), including the evaluation of the team of doctors assessing the group and how the Commission would address persons who are currently incarcerated, Shadick said those matters would be addressed by the commissioners.
He noted that, as Secretary to the Commission, his role differs from that of the commissioners, adding that the TOR speaks specifically to the work of the commissioners. He said the questions raised would ultimately be addressed in the Commission’s report.
“…so based so far on the TORs, we have kind of divided up types of witnesses. So we’re looking at persons who would have been first responders, officials, and survivors and families of those who would have perished. That is a very broad categorisation. The number of persons, I cannot say how much would be in each one, but our initial count, we’re looking at more than 100 witnesses.”

More than 2 months
Meanwhile, Shadick was also asked about the timeframe President Dr Irfaan Ali had given for the CoI, which was expected to span two months. However, he said the inquiry would likely have to extend beyond the two-month period.
The MV Barima capsized on Saturday, July 18, 2026, approximately 9.3 nautical miles off Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast.
The passenger and cargo ferry had departed the Kingston Goods Wharf in Georgetown at about 15:15h on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma.
However, at about 23:01h, the vessel transmitted a distress signal after encountering difficulties off the Essequibo Coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River.
A total of 179 people, including 18 crew members, were onboard. The disaster claimed 73 lives, while 76 people survived, and approximately 30 remain unaccounted for.
Three Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) employees have since been charged with murder over the tragedy. The accused were all members of the MV Barima’s crew on July 18, the day of the fatal incident. They are captain Kevin Price, called “KP”, 40, of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD); chief mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, of Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD); and goods superintendent Delon Granderson, 33, of Fellowship, West Coast Demerara (WCB).