Public hearings into the deadly MV Barima tragedy have been adjourned to the 10th November, but the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (COI), Justice Godfrey Smith has indicated that the work of the Commission will continue.

The adjournment came on Thursday after seven days of oral evidence, which was presented before the Commission that is tasked with investigating the circumstances under which the MV Barima Ferry capsized and sank on July 18, killing more than 100 people.

Thirty-three (33) persons have appeared before the Commission so far.

At the time of the adjournment, the Director of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Captain John Flores was being questioned by the Commission.

He was expected to return today, but the Commission granted him additional time to seek legal advice based on some of the questions he was being asked by the Commission members to answer.

The COI Chairman said the two-week adjournment will allow the Secretariat to gather additional evidence, including witness statements, especially from survivors.

 “The Commission is of the view that it would be more useful and helpful, if the Secretariat visits these survivors in their respective communities, where they are perhaps more comfortable in order to gather these statements, and that will take a little bit of time. And so, we have projected that no later than the 9th of November we would wish to resume,” Justice Smith said.

In light of November 9, 2026 being national holiday, the date was shifted to November 10.

Justice Smith was keen on noting that while the public hearings have paused, other related work of the Commission will continue.

“And equally we wish to point out that the fact we pause oral hearings does not mean the work of the Commission comes to a standstill. The hearing of oral evidence is only one part of our work,” the COI Chairman said.

He pointed out that since the commencement of public hearings last Wednesday, 33 witnesses have appeared before the Commission. Their testimonies along with documents submitted to the Commission will be analyzed in the interim.

The Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) Officer, Tia Valenzuela, who first received the distress message alert at 10:43pm on July 18, indicating that a maritime vessel was in distress, was among the first set of witnesses to appear before the Commission.

Other witnesses included the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard Commanding Officer, Commander David Shamsudeen, the Director of the Air Navigation Services Department, Rickford Samaroo Roraima Airways’ Director of Operations and Commercial Pilot, Captain Learie Barclay and GDF Captain Simon Gordon.

Other members of the GDF including members of the Air Corps and Coast Guard also appeared before the Commission, along with personnel from the AIS Unit, the Light House Department and MARAD.

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