Guyana has formed an independent five-person international commission to investigate the June 18 capsizing of the 87-year-old MV Barima — the country's worst maritime disaster. Authorities estimate about 179 people were aboard; divers have recovered 73 bodies and 76 people were rescued. The commission, chaired by Phillip Godfrey Smith, will probe possible overcrowding, cargo storage, vessel maintenance, life-saving equipment and any negligence, and is expected to recommend reforms to strengthen maritime safety.
Guyana Appoints Independent International Panel to Probe Deadly MV Barima Ferry Sinking
FILE - People sit on the seawall as the sun sets in Georgetown, Guyana, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Guyana has appointed an independent, five-person international commission to investigate the June 18 sinking of the 87-year-old state ferry MV Barima — the country's deadliest maritime disaster on record.
What Happened
The MV Barima capsized in Atlantic waters after departing the capital, Georgetown, bound for Port Kaituma, an Indigenous community near the Venezuelan border. Authorities believe about 179 passengers were on board. Divers have recovered 73 bodies so far and 76 people were rescued; international teams remain engaged in vessel-recovery and search operations.
A map showing where a ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana. (AP Digital Embed)(AP Photo/Will Jarrett)
Independent Commission and Scope
In a state address, President Irfaan Ali said the commission has been granted broad powers and will operate independently. Belize's former attorney general, Phillip Godfrey Smith, was named chair of the five-person panel. The team also includes an attorney, a naval architect and maritime experts from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
"The commission will determine whether any acts of negligence, misconduct, dereliction of duty or other failures contributed to or caused the disaster," President Ali said, adding that the panel should recommend reforms to strengthen maritime safety and emergency response.
Areas Under Review
- Passenger management including embarkation procedures and the accuracy of manifests
- Possible overcrowding and the storage and securing of cargo (including vehicles and large pallets)
- Availability, condition and use of life-saving equipment
- Vessel maintenance history, seaworthiness and any neglect of condition
- Performance of navigation and communication equipment and the impact of sea conditions
- Organizational or individual negligence, misconduct or dereliction of duty
Arrests, Survivor Accounts and Recovery Efforts
Local authorities have arrested three people in connection with the incident, including the rescued captain, who was reported to have tested positive for marijuana, and another crew member. Dozens of survivors who clung to debris for hours reported that the ferry appeared overloaded with passengers and cargo and that crew members had dismissed reports of the vessel taking on water as "normal." International dive teams are still attempting to recover the Barima so experts can inspect the wreck.
The commission is expected to produce findings and recommend institutional and operational reforms aimed at improving maritime safety, emergency preparedness and response to reduce the likelihood of similar tragedies in the future.
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