Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, 15:27 by Written By Denis Chabrol
Long-awaited public hearings of the presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sinking of the MV Barima would begin early next month, a source familiar with plans said Tuesday.
The COI secretariat and venue for public hearings are housed at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) where the five-member commission has been examining documentary evidence about the 87-year old colonial era vessel that sank on July 18, 2026.
A source said the start of the public hearing does not have to await the salvaging of the ferry which was transporting cargo and at least 179 passengers and crew members from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. Government is reportedly evaluating three bids for bringing up the ferry in a manner that would preserve forensic evidence for the inquiry. Government had said 73 persons were confirmed dead, 76 survivors were rescued, and several others could not be found.
The COI secretariat said the commissioners had already visited the scene of the incident and collected documents.
Procedural rules published in the Official Gazette state that the investigative phase will consist primarily of the collection and review of documents from persons with information, inspection of physical evidence, consultations and interviews of persons with information.
The rules state that the principal objective of the investigation is to identify the witnesses for the evidentiary hearing.
The commission says all persons are required to preserve originals of all documents relevant to the Commission’s Terms of Reference that are in their possession, power or control and any relevant physical evidence in their possession, power or control until such time as the Commissioners have ordered otherwise.
The captain, first mate and good superintendent of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) are to know the fate of the murder charge they are facing. A magistrate will rule whether they ought not to have been charged possibly until a maritime investigation was conducted and the police called in.
