Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul, who has been closely monitoring the developments around the MV Barima tragedy, believes survivors must not bear the cost of giving evidence before the Commission.

With the Commission of Inquiry (COI) now expected to commence public hearings next Wednesday, MP Mahipaul is of the opinion that the survivors, many of whom reside in the Northwest District, should be provided with transportation and accommodation in the city to effectively participate in the hearings.

“The survivors of the MV Barima tragedy have already endured an unimaginable experience. The last thing they should have to worry about is whether they can afford to travel to Georgetown, find accommodation, or purchase meals in order to give their testimony before the Commission of Inquiry. I therefore call on the Commission to make it clear, publicly and without ambiguity, that no survivor should be financially burdened because they have chosen to come forward and testify,” MP Mahipaul said in a statement this afternoon.

He said every survivor who is willing to give evidence should be assured that their basic and reasonable expenses will be covered for the period they are required to attend the Commission.

“For survivors travelling from outside Georgetown, this should include airfare or other reasonable transportation costs, accommodation and meals for the period they are required in Georgetown to give their testimony. For survivors living in and around Georgetown, transportation to and from the Commission and meals should be provided where they are required to attend for testimony,” he proposed.

The Opposition MP said the demands are not unreasonable, adding that the measures could remove practical barriers and demonstrate to survivors that the Commission genuinely wants to hear from them.

“If we genuinely want the truth about what happened aboard the MV Barima, then we must create an environment in which survivors feel welcomed, respected, supported and protected, not burdened. The testimony of survivors may be among the most important evidence before this Commission. Their voices must not be lost because someone cannot afford a plane ticket, transportation, a hotel room or meals while fulfilling their civic responsibility to testify,” he said.

Thus far, only a single survivor has come forward to the Commission to provide evidence.

However, the Commission intends to travel to Port Kaituma and Mabaruma next week to engage with survivors and families of those who perished. The Commission’s Secretary, Javed Shadick said based on those engagements, and the number of persons from the Northwest District willing to testify, the Commission will determine whether public hearings will also be held there. 

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