Pristine T&HD wharf is evidence of farce — GHK Lall — Opinion

Pristine T&HD wharf is evidence of farce

October 11, 2026·2 min read

Dear Editor,

I said it early, didn’t I? The PPP Government had to prove me and some other Guyanese right, didn’t it? The MV Barima Commission of Inquiry (CoI)^[1] had all the ingredients of a total farce in the making, and that was just proven. It has nothing to do with the billion-dollar award to lift the tragic boat from its watery grave^[2]. Still, I would recommend that Guyanese pay close attention, and never lose sight of that salvage exercise. One lapse for one second, and a bouncer could remove one’s head.

How much the Barima CoI is a full-fledged farce came out in a walkabout. The foreigners paid a visit to the Kingston Wharf, looked around, and they beheld a Guyanese political marvel. A fresh, spanking, sparkling wharf in tiptop condition. One never seen before by the natives. The Queen Elizabeth II or the USS Abraham Lincoln could dock there, and every member of the crews of those two ships would break out into an ear-to-ear smile. Is this Guyana something, or what? The waiting Kingston Wharf reception, that greeted the CoI Quintet was one fit for a visiting monarch. Staff starched and proper; everyone helpful to a fault.

The Kingston Wharf, the MV Ma Lisha^[3] were all as clean and smooth as brand-new babies, just freshly scrubbed and washed, without a speck of dirt or any other funny stuff within sight. If one wants to see dedication and industry in action, there both were. The Kingston Wharf and the MV Ma Lisha could have had their maiden visits and being ready for a maiden voyage. I can’t wait for the witness parade. Who’s called, who’s forgotten. The schooled and the unquestioned. Plus, the softball questions. Plus, that PPP Government beauty: I don’t recall. Ye gods!

The picture presented to this international CoI was perfect. No congestion. No overloading. No fare beaters. No touts. No rodents. No impatient, rowdy passengers with their baggage. Not one PPP Government minister, not one senior public servant (PPP powerhouse again), and not one arrogant Freedom House operative (more PPP royalty) busting any line, and clearing ordinary people out of the way. No excess baggage. No heavy-duty machinery. No nothing. What the CoI saw wasn’t just a farce, it was a fix intended to fool the unwary. Whoever was behind that masquerade should be charged with a felony. Gawd! Things are beyond crooked in this country. Again, I ask: if for a wharf to create the best first impressions (one furthest from truth or daily reality in real-time) for the CoI team, then what machinations could be involved with lifting that boat? A boat with many political secrets. A boat that still is capable of producing the incredible, despite being totally under water for over two and a half months. Try this for unbelievable: the MV Barima still has a bunch of smoking guns underwater 11 weeks later. Go for it, brother BK. Show how some magic could be worked. The PPP Government is paying for the lifting of a boat. It isn’t paying for the lifting of any veil. Guyanese are left to connect the dots and decide how big a fool their government is trying to make of them.

I believe that if the PPP Government could make the weather and tides behave to suit its twisted objectives, it would put on that show for the CoI.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

References

High‑level legal and maritime experts named to MV Barima Commission of Inquiry – Office of the President, Guyana

op.gov.gy · 2026-07-26

High‑level legal and maritime experts named to MV Barima Commission of Inquiry – Office of the President, Guyana His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali named a distinguished five‑member team to lead the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal sinking of the MV Barima. The appointment, announced on Sunday morning, is made under Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, with the President emphasising transparency, accountability, and reform. CARICOM’s High‑Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an Ad Hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, will serve as Chair.He is joined by Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a naval architect and marine engineer with experience in major maritime disaster investigations; Captain Hamada Fouda, Senior Maritime Surveyor and Compliance Auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Ms Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, an attorney‑at‑law specialising in Admiralty and Maritime Law; and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, a veteran of maritime operations and security. The Commission’s terms of reference are sweeping. It will establish the full circumstances of the tragedy — from loading and boarding procedures to the capsizing itself — and review the adequacy of search, rescue, and recovery operations. It will evaluate compliance with laws, regulations, and standards governing ferries, determine whether negligence or misconduct contributed to the disaster, and inspect the vessel’s condition and maintenance history. The inquiry will also analyse environmental and operational factors such as weather, tides, currents, navigation, and communications, while it is expected to evaluate the competence and conduct of the master and crew. Passenger management will also be evaluated, including embarkation procedures, manifest preparation, possible overcrowding, cargo stowage, and the availability and use of life‑saving equipment. The Commission will also recommend legislative, regulatory, and institutional reforms to strengthen maritime safety, improve emergency preparedness, and reduce the likelihood of similar tragedies. President Ali underscored that the necessary legal instruments are being formalised to give effect to the decision, after which the Commission will commence its work. ... He also pledged that the inquiry will be thorough, independent, and aimed at putting the needed systems in place to prevent future tragedies.

Source

Pristine T&HD wharf is evidence of farce in Kiskadee Watch, October 11, 2026

BK International Inc. And Industrial Fabrication Awarded Contract To Salvage The MV Barima, Opposition Leader Questions Award - HGPTV - Guyana's Nightly News and Entertainment Channel

www.hgptv.com · 2026-10-09

BK International Inc. And Industrial Fabrication Awarded Contract To Salvage The MV Barima, Opposition Leader Questions Award - HGPTV - Guyana's Nightly News and Entertainment Channel ... LILIENDAAL, EAST COAST DEMERARA — Polish Naval Architect and Marine Engineer Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski has revealed that he has formally engaged local contracting giant BK International Inc.—in joint venture with Industrial Fabrication Inc.—as the “preferred” team selected to execute the complex underwater salvage of the ill-fated state-operated ferry, MV Barima. ... The procurement selection immediately ignited a fierce political rebuke from Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed, who questioned BK International’s maritime technical competence to safely recover the wreckage, while simultaneously lodging accusations of bias against sitting commissioners on the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI). ... The MV Barima has remained submerged on the seabed off the Essequibo Coast for 82 days since its catastrophic sinking on July 18, 2026. ... - The Bidding Field: Formal bids were tendered by a consortium comprising BK International Inc. and Industrial Fabrication Inc. alongside an international maritime salvage outfit from the Netherlands, KMS B.V. - Forensic Integrity ... Dr. Jasionowski emphasized ... despite 82 days ... , engine room ... and cargo holds ... terms of revealing the name of the company we assume ... be appointed, maybe I was not supposed to reveal it, but you ask me the question and I tell you what I know. I also say we understand that it is the preferred choice.” ... - Evidence vs. Salvage: The retired military commander stated that while the panel remains hopeful BK International can execute the operation, the CoI’s overarching findings, accountability determinations, and maritime safety recommendations are not entirely dependent on whether the physical hull is brought to the surface. - Broader Inquiry Lines: Witness testimonies, maintenance logs, voyage manifests, and regulatory compliance records will provide substantial grounds for findings regardless of the vessel’s recovery status. ### Opposition Leader Mohamed Rebukes Contract Award and Panel Impartiality Taking the floor during the Wednesday session, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed challenged both the technical prudence of the salvage award and the independence of the inquiry panel: - Technical Competence Questioned: Mohamed questioned whether BK International possesses the specialized marine equipment, saturation divers, and technical pedigree required to raise a sunken passenger vessel from the open Atlantic. - Salvage Must Precede Hearings: The Opposition Leader maintained that physical inspection of the vessel is the fundamental determining factor in uncovering the root cause of the disaster, arguing that public hearings should be paused until the ship is docked. ... “I think before commencing ... should raise the boat. ... that boat two days after ... The MV Barima disaster claimed the lives of dozens of passengers and crew members en route to Port Kaituma, with more than 100 casualties reported and several individuals still unaccounted for. Formal public evidentiary hearings are slated to commence on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

MV Barima CoI inspects Kingston Wharf, questions raised on new facilities - Kiskadee Watch

kiskadeewatch.com · 2026-10-09

MV Barima CoI inspects Kingston Wharf, questions raised on new facilities - Kiskadee Watch # MV Barima CoI inspects Kingston Wharf, questions raised on new facilities By Mia Anthony Fri, October 9 2026, 2:22 AM GMT-4 Members of the CoI during the visit to the wharf yesterday. -survivor says passengers endured ‘hot baking’ conditions on July 18 The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sinking of the MV Barima yesterday inspected the Kingston Wharf, where commissioners examined the passenger waiting area, questioned officials about recently installed facilities and inspected the MV MaLisha, several sections of which showed signs of corrosion. ... The five-member commission arrived at the Kingston Wharf at approximately 10:30 a.m., later than the scheduled 9:00 a.m. start, and began its inspection at the wharf’s bond, where photographs were taken of the contents inside. ... During the inspection, they questioned officials about the age of several facilities and pieces of equipment at the wharf. ... When asked about a scale at the site, an official responded that it was “brand new”. The scale was said to have been installed approximately two months earlier. Fans and other equipment in the waiting room were reportedly installed about one month earlier, while the road in the area was completed after the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima. The signage in the waiting area was reportedly installed just two nights before the commissioners’ planned visit. The inspection formed part of the commission’s ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the 87-year-old MV Barima. ... Moonsammy told Kiskadee Watch the waiting area presented to the commissioners was different from the facility passengers used before boarding the MV Barima at the time of the disaster. According to her, passengers had to wait in an older galvanized sheeting-type building located diagonally opposite the newer waiting area inspected by the commission. The older building had limited seating, consisting mainly of wooden benches, and became so hot that passengers sometimes had to step outside to get some air. “We used to deh in a place hot baking. We ... to come out just to get lil breeze,” Moonsammy recalled. Rust evident on the MV Ma Lisha ... Examining the MV Ma Lisha ... During yesterday’s visit, Commissioner Captain Hamada Fouda was observed inspecting the MV Ma Lisha. Fouda examined sections of the vessel showing signs of corrosion. At one point, he was seen breaking off a piece of corroded metal before dusting his hands and using his cellphone to photograph the affected area. He subsequently continued his inspection of the vessel. Several sections of the MV Ma Lisha appeared to have rust, while what looked like recently installed screws were also visible in one area. ... The MV Barima sank on July 18 while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. According to figures provided in the background material, 73 people died, 76 survived and approximately 30 people remained unaccounted for. The commission is scheduled to continue its engagements in Region One, meeting with families at the Kumaka Waterfront on October 12 and the Port Kaituma Waterfront on October 13.