(Kaieteur News) – The Commission of Inquiry into the fatal sinking of the MV Barima has officially published its governing procedural rules in the official gazette, establishing the formal framework for public hearings, witness interviews, and evidence collection as investigative work deepens at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
The development comes as the secretariat prepares to host a press conference shortly to update the nation on its preliminary findings and timeline. Javed Shadick, secretary to the commission, confirmed with Kaieteur News that the commissioners will address the media directly regarding the ongoing proceedings in the coming week.
Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski at the Liliendaal Secretariat actively reviewing the MV Barima logbooks
Kaieteur News observed commission member Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski at the Liliendaal Secretariat actively reviewing the MV Barima logbooks. His technical examination forms part of an intensive documentary review into the vessel’s operational history and maritime logs.
The tragedy, which occurred when the vessel capsized and sank, claimed the lives of more than one hundred passengers and crew members. Families of the victims and survivors continue to call for accountability and swift closure.
The official publication, cited as the Commission of Inquiry (MV Barima) Rules of 2026, details sixty-six comprehensive provisions enacted under Section 9 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03. The rules were issued by chairman Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith SC of Belize, alongside fellow commissioners Captain Hamada Fouda, Nyree Dawn Alfonso attorney, Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard, and Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski.
Javed Shadick
The mandate empowers the commission to investigate all circumstances leading to the sinking, determine the definitive causes, assess physical injuries and loss of life, and recommend structural reforms to national maritime safety protocols to prevent future casualties.
Under the gazetted regulations, proceedings will be conducted primarily in public from Monday to Friday between nine in the morning and four in the afternoon at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. No date has been communicated as yet. The commission retains the authority to order in-camera sittings only under specific circumstances where necessary to protect confidentiality, legal privilege, the proper administration of justice, or public safety.
The investigative phase focuses on interviewing witnesses, gathering physical evidence, and collecting relevant records. All persons, government agencies, and maritime entities in possession of original documents, electronic files, photographs, or physical evidence touching upon the inquiry are legally mandated to preserve those materials until further notice.
MV Barima lifejacket
The regulations outline strict grounds for individuals or entities seeking standing to participate in the hearings. Persons may apply for standing in writing if they played a direct role in the event, maintain a substantial personal or direct interest, such as survivors and family members of victims, or may be subject to criticism during the proceedings. Standing may also be awarded if an applicant’s participation is determined to be helpful in fulfilling the overall terms of reference.
Rule sixteen mandates that individuals seeking standing must submit a written application to the secretary detailing their contact information and that of their legal representative. To streamline the process, applicants are required to explain why standing is sought in a concise statement not exceeding three pages, accompanied by copies of relevant supporting documents.
Commission counsel will serve as the principal legal and administrative lead, tasked with managing procedural work, questioning witnesses, advising the commissioners, and ensuring matters affecting the public interest are thoroughly examined. Attorneys representing witnesses may appear during testimony to safeguard their clients’ legal rights.
To ensure procedural fairness, the commission is empowered to issue warning letters to any individual who may face explicit or significant criticism in evidence or within the final report, granting them a reasonable opportunity to respond. The commission may also issue formal summonses or subpoenas to compel witness attendance or the production of mandatory records.
All evidence and transcripts from public sittings will be made accessible to the public and the media via a dedicated website, which is being established to serve as the single authoritative public record.
While the commission consolidates its legal framework, decisions surrounding the physical recovery of the submerged vessel remain pending. More than three weeks after the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board opened bids submitted by three companies for the salvaging of the MV Barima, an official selection has not yet taken place.
Public records from the tender board show that two local firms, BK International Incorporated and Industrial Fabrication Incorporated, alongside a Dutch company from the Netherlands, KMS B.V., submitted proposals to salvage the wreck. The submitted bids range from approximately one billion dollars to over two billion dollars.
The commission’s preliminary workflow has already encompassed an initial site survey of the accident scene, the establishment of the administrative secretariat, and formal requests for critical technical data from key public entities, including the Maritime Administration Department, the Transport and Harbours Division, the Guyana Coast Guard, and the Air Guard.
Source: Kaieteur News