MV Barima inquiry takes family outreach to Mabaruma ahead of Wednesday’s first sitting
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy took its outreach programme to Region One on Monday, meeting families and survivors at the Mabaruma Waterfront — the first of two hinterland sessions before formal evidence-taking begins on Wednesday.
Monday’s 10 a.m. session, announced over the weekend, caps the Commission’s opening week in Georgetown: a formal opening last Wednesday, October 7, followed by site visits to the Kingston wharf, the Maritime Administration Department and the Transport and Harbours Department on Thursday, and two East Bank of Demerara dry-dock facilities associated with the vessel’s maintenance on Friday.
The Commission travels to Port Kaituma on Tuesday for the same programme — a 10 a.m. meeting at the Community Centre — before returning to Georgetown for its first sitting on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where hearings are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Details from today’s Mabaruma session were still emerging at press time; 592 News will update this story as reports come out.
Last week’s coast session at the conference centre drew about 120 survivors and relatives, some of whom pressed the commissioners on the delayed salvage of the wreck and whether the inquiry would examine the vessel’s maintenance and inspection history. Separately, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board has since awarded the salvage contract to B.K. International Inc. on a “no cure, no pay” basis, with reports putting the value at about $1 billion.
More than 100 witnesses are expected when hearings begin. The Commission, chaired by Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith, will submit its findings, observations and recommendations to President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, with an initial estimate of about six months for the final report.
592 News will follow the Port Kaituma session on Tuesday and the first sitting on Wednesday.
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