Press Release: All resources for thorough, professional and independent inquiry into MV Barima tragedy – President Ali – Department of Public Information, Guyana
# Press Release: All resources for thorough, professional and independent inquiry into MV Barima tragedy – President Ali
July 30, 2026
His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali said that all resources “required to facilitate a thorough, professional and independent inquiry” into the MV Barima tragedy that occurred on July 18, 2026, will be made available to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) members.
During today’s swearing-in of the COI members at State House, the President assured that the Government “will provide the Commission with the administrative, technical, financial and logistical support necessary for the effective discharge of its mandate”.
He said that the Commission has been entrusted with a comprehensive mandate to inquire into every relevant aspect of the disaster and that its Terms of Reference (ToR) are deliberately broad and searching.
The ToR “require the Commission to determine the facts, examine the causes and contributing factors, evaluate compliance with applicable laws and operational standards, assess the effectiveness of the search, rescue and recovery operations, identify any shortcomings or failures, and recommend reforms necessary to strengthen the safety and resilience of our maritime transportation system”.
The President said that the entire nation, especially the families of loved ones who perished are awaiting the answers.
He emphasised that Guyana deserved a full, fair, impartial account of what occurred, why it occurred, and what must be done to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.
“Future generations deserve the assurance that every lesson that can be learned from this tragedy will, indeed, be learned…It is in fulfilment of that responsibility that this Commission of Inquiry has been established.”
The President also noted that he is particularly pleased that the Commission comprises individuals of exceptional professional standing and distinction. “Collectively, they possess expertise in law, marine engineering, maritime operations, maritime regulation and disaster investigation. Their experience, competence and integrity will enhance the professionalism, depth and credibility of this inquiry.”
At the simple swearing-in ceremony, Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman administered the oaths to the Chair, Godfrey Philip Smith of Belize (virtually); and to the other commissioners: Captain Hamada Fouda of Jamaica, Ms Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago.
“This Commission meets the highest benchmarks of independence, impartiality and objectivity. They will determine their own procedures and conduct of their work guided by the evidence and the law.”
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Honourable Anil Nandlall; and other Government Ministers were also present.
### Ministry of Home Affairs – Public Advisory; International Road Transport Agreement
| | |
|---|---|
| **Rupununi uprising** | |
| Damage to the Lethem police station from rebel bazookas | |
| Date | Date2–4 January 1969Location, Upper Takutu-Upper EssequiboResult Guyanese victory |
| Date | 2–4 January 1969 |
| Location | Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo |
| Result | Guyanese victory |
| **Belligerents** | |
| Guyana (1966–1970) Guyana, Guyana Defence Force | |
| **Commanders and leaders** | |
| Guyana Forbes Burnham | |
| **Strength** | |
| 200 soldiers | |
| **Casualties and losses** | |
| 5 police officers killed, 2 civilians killed, 20 total wounded | |
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Shortly after rebels reportedly returned from Venezuela, the operation was launched, according to Ishmael.[*better source needed*] Valerie stayed in the capital of Venezuela, Caracas, while her brothers and the Lawrences participated in the rebellion in Guyana. The command center of the rebellion was at the Hart ranch, which was about 15 miles (24 km) from the town of Lethem, the principal settlement of the Rupununi region. Rebels armed with machine guns and bazookas began their attacks on Lethem around 11:00am on 2 January 1969, first attacking a police station with about 12 officers present. Five police officers— constables James McKenzie, William Norton, Michael Kendall, Sergeant James Anderson and Inspector Whittington Braithwaite—along with two civilians, Victor Hernandez and Thomas James, were killed while the rebels destroyed buildings belonging to the Guyanese government with bazooka fire. Two other individuals were reported dead, with *The New York Times* reporting that a total of nine people were killed.
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About 30 of the rebels were arrested following the uprising. Guyana charged 57 individuals with murder. Of the 28 rebels arrested, 18 were released on 24 January 1969 after having murder charges dropped. The ten remaining individuals were Anaclito Alicio, Ignatius Charlie, Charles Davis, Francis James, Colin Melville, Patrick Melville, Damian Phillips, Aldwyn Singh, Brenton Singh and Handel Singh.
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During a jury trial in late 1969, Guyanese prosecutors presented evidence of Venezuelan armaments and oversight of the rebels, though the defence for those accused argued that his clients were under duress when they participated in the rebellion.[*better source needed*] On 16 January 1970, the verdict of the jury was determined after seven hours of deliberation; seven of the ten accused were found not guilty while a verdict was not presented for Aldwyn, Colin and Patrick.[*better source needed*] The judge overlooking the trial ordered a retrial, though the three remaining individuals were later acquitted and released.[*better source needed*]
Guyanese authorities are asking the public, growing in anger, to wait on the results of an official probe before apportioning blame for the sinking of a government ferry late Saturday that has claimed dozens of lives so far.
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The MV Barima, one of a string of state ferries which service interior jungle communities by hugging the coast before turning into interior rivers, sank in the Atlantic about seven hours after sailing from the capital, Georgetown, to Port Kaituma in the northwest near Venezuela. The vessel was 87 years old and many of those who survived the Caribbean Community nation’s worst maritime disaster on record are adamant that the vessel was overloaded and rickety.
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Officials, including Prime Minister Mark Philips, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, and Maritime Agency Director Stephen Thomas all say there are too many differing accounts of what had transpired in the hours before sailing to come to a definitive conclusion.
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“From all reports at the wharf, the vessel load line was barely submerged,” Thomas told reporters at a late Tuesday night press conference. “The vessel has a load line. If the load line is not submerged, then the vessel is not considered overloaded.” He argued that “it is usual” that the load line differs when in fresh water compared to seawater. Based on that, he said the vessel was not overloaded.
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Maritime Agency Director Thomas said officials are depending on a full and comprehensive investigation into the accident, the loading of the vessel, the role of supervisory personnel, and every aspect of operations regarding the tragedy before asserting blame and reaching conclusions.
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“The investigation will reveal all of that,” Thomas told the AP on Wednesday, while Prime Minister Phillips noted that “we have nothing to hide. I believe and I live for transparency. I can assure you, yes, we will have a commission of inquiry, and people will be held responsible based on the outcome, the results, and the recommendations of that commission” he stated.