Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has announced that an independent Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will be established to investigate the MV Barima tragedy.
Speaking to the media, the Prime Minister said the Commission will determine issues relating to compensation for those affected. However, he stressed that the Government’s immediate priority is the ongoing search and recovery efforts, supporting affected families, and financing the funeral expenses of those who lost their lives.
Guyana Standard understands that at least three persons, including the captain of the MV Barima and the individual responsible for loading the vessel, have been arrested as part of the investigation. Extensions have reportedly been granted to detain them beyond the initial 72-hour period, although no criminal charges have yet been laid.
When asked about the arrests, the Prime Minister declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation, saying only that “the law must be followed.”
Responding to concerns about the continued presence of Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill at official press conferences despite the trauma experienced by survivors and the families of those who perished, Prime Minister Phillips defended the Minister’s involvement.
He noted that the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), which has responsibility for the MV Barima, falls under the Ministry of Public Works. As such, Phillips said Edghill’s presence at press briefings is appropriate and that the Minister would also be a useful participant in the Commission of Inquiry given his ministerial responsibility for the department.
The MV Barima capsized over the weekend with a reported 115 passengers.
Close to 60 bodies have been recovered, of which some 44 have been identified by family members. So far, 18 of those positively identified have been released to their families.
