The government of Guyana has officially appointed a group of international experts to lead an investigation into the recent sinking of the MV Barima, a state-owned ferry that capsized in the Atlantic Ocean. The incident, which occurred on June 18 after the vessel departed Georgetown for Port Kaituma, an Indigenous community near the Venezuelan border, is now considered the country’s deadliest maritime disaster on record.
President Irfaan Ali announced the formation of the five-person investigative commission during a state address on Sunday. The team, which has been granted broad powers to operate independently, is chaired by Phillip Godfrey Smith, the former attorney general of Belize. The panel also includes maritime experts from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as an attorney and a naval architect. Their mandate is to determine the cause of the disaster, with a specific focus on whether professional negligence, misconduct, or a failure of institutional oversight played a role.
Official records indicate that 179 passengers were on board when the 87-year-old vessel capsized. While 76 individuals were successfully rescued, divers have recovered 73 bodies to date. International teams are currently working to recover the ferry so that the experts can conduct a detailed inspection of the wreck. Local authorities have already arrested three individuals in connection with the incident, including the captain, who reportedly tested positive for marijuana, and another crew member.
President Ali stated that the commission will conduct a rigorous review of passenger management, manifest preparation, and cargo storage. Investigators will also assess whether the vessel was overcrowded, the availability of life-saving equipment, and the maintenance history of the ferry. These inquiries follow claims from survivors who spent hours clinging to debris; many passengers alleged that the ship was overloaded with vehicles and large pallets, and that the crew dismissed reports of water entering the hull as a normal occurrence.
Ultimately, the administration hopes the commission will provide findings on operational failures—including maintenance and navigation equipment functionality—and recommend structural reforms to improve maritime safety and emergency preparedness to prevent future tragedies.
