Last Updated on Thursday, 22 October 2026, 15:24 by Written By Denis Chabrol
The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) former Director of Maritime Safety, Retired Captain John Flores on Thursday said up to when he left that post three years ago, there were no certification documents in the files or aboard old government ferries.
Polish naval architect and forensic marine engineer, Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski was particularly interested in the loading, tonnage and Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) certificates for government ferries.
Mr Flores told the Commission of Inquiry into the capsizing of the MV Barima ferry on July 18, 2026 that he was not sure whether the certification of government ferries was done by seaworthiness certificates or annual surveys.
Now the coordinator of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mr Flores recalled that when he was the Chief Inspector, he and other inspectors had begun collecting information from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) about those ferries and taken steps to reconstruct them.
Jasionowski: Captain Flores, I asked earlier about SOLAR certificates, load line certificate, stability, loading manual, bondage certificate. I mean, most fundamental, right? And you’re saying that you are not sure if they were required to have them. Is that what I understood?
Flores: Yeah, that’s what I actually said
After Mr Flores told the inquiry that inspection reports and related documents should be in the possession of MARAD Director-General, Stephen Thomas-the next witness scheduled to testify- COI Chairman, Justice Godfrey Smith insisted that Mr Thomas bring those documents with him rather than have them merely attached to his witness statement.
The former head of safety at MARAD could not remember whether the MV Barima had deficiencies such as basic safety certification.
“I cannot recall. I can’t recall the deficiency, but if we go to the record, you will see if there is any kind of inspection…. The ship inspection record,” he said.
After an adjournment, the COI Chairman returned and advised Captain Flores that given the line of questioning, he should consider seeking legal advice.
On the issue of whether ferries in Guyana are exempted from certain documentation, Mr Flores said that would require more time to prepare.
