With the Commission of Inquiry into the deadly MV Barima ferry tragedy preparing to begin its hearings this month, it is inviting members of the public and others to submit relevant information and recommendations.

In a public notice issued this morning, the Secretariat of the MV Barima Commission of Inquiry officially extended the invitation to members of the public, government and non-governmental organisations, private and public entities and international community who possess knowledge and relevant information and or recommendations to contact the Office of the Secretariat at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The notice said all persons with information relevant to the Terms of Reference of the Commission of Inquiry will be required to attend and give evidence before the Commission at a time and hour as the Commissioners shall prescribe.

The Commission reminded that it is statutorily empowered to summon any person to attend and give evidence or to produce books, plans or documents at any sitting of the Commission and give testimony connected with the inquiry as the Commissioners shall prescribe.

The public notice comes at a time when concern is being raised about the length of time it is taking the Commission to get down to work.

The members of the Commission of Inquiry were sworn in on the 30th July, just two weeks after the ferry tragedy. Since the swearing-in and the publishing of the Terms of Reference for the Commission, information about its work has been scarce, prompting the political opposition and other groups to raise concern.

The Commission’s objectives includes the conduct of a thorough, independent, impartial and comprehensive public inquiry into all circumstances surrounding the capsizing and sinking of the M/V “BARIMA”, the tragic loss of life, the response thereto, and all matters reasonably connected to the tragedy.

It is expected to also establish the full facts and sequence of events; determine the immediate, direct, contributing and systematic causes of the casualty; identify any shortcomings or failures; assess compliance with applicable legal and safety requirements; recommend appropriate accountability where warranted; and propose reforms necessary to strengthen maritime safety and prevent a recurrence.

In examining the technical aspects of the marine casualty, the Commission may have regard to relevant national laws and internationally recognised marine casualty investigation principles and standards, including, where applicable, the Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into the Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (“Casualty Investigation Code”).

The Commission’s mandate shall not be limited to a safety investigation and shall extend to public accountability, institutional performance and reform, the Terms of Reference state.

In a separate media statement this morning, the Commission sought to explain that it has been working.

According to the statement, since the swearing-in of the Commissioners, the Commission has made preliminary, in-person survey of the site of the accident, arranged for the venue (at the Arthur Chung Conference Center) for the Commission’s hearings which will be held in public, established the Commission’s Secretariat for administrative, research and logistical support to the Commission; made arrangements for acquisition of important data and information from a number of public institutions likely to have information touching and concerning the capsizing of the Barima, in accordance with the requirements of international maritime conventions, the regulations made under same and the Guyana Shipping Act.

The Commisison said it has also already made preliminary analysis of the documentation received to date regarding various aspects of the seaworthiness of the M/V “BARIMA”, such as the conditions under which the vessel sailed, and crew operation during the voyage, which is a work in progress.

It has also started the compilation of a list of potential witnesses, while preparing a preliminary schedule for interviewing witnesses.

Rules of Procedure governing how the Commission will approach its work have also been drafted and the Commission has been developing a dedicated website for the Commission of Inquiry to serve as its single authoritative public record which it said is critical to promoting transparency and accessibility.

The Commission said it fully recognizes and understands the immense public interest in the circumstances surrounding the capsizing of the M/V “BARIMA” and the resulting tragic loss of life.

“The Commission is committed to conducting its work independently, impartially, thoroughly and expeditiously, without fear or favour, in accordance with Rules of Procedure and the terms of its mandate. The Rules of Procedure are in the final phase of completion”, the statement said.

More than 100 persons lost their lives in the tragedy. The bodies of 73 persons were recovered while more than 30 remains missing. A total of 76 persons survived and were rescued.

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