The Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Barima will hear directly from survivors and relatives of the dead and missing over four days of public sittings next week, from November 16 to 19 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal.
The announcement, made in a notice issued on Wednesday and reported by Guyana Times, marks a turning point for an inquiry that had been criticised in some quarters for moving slowly while families waited for answers about the July 18 disaster that claimed 73 lives.
How the hearings will be organised
Each day has been allocated to persons from specific regions and communities. On November 16, the Commission will accommodate witnesses from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). On November 17, it will hear from persons in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Wednesday, November 18, is reserved for persons from Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini) and its satellite villages. Thursday, November 19, will hear from residents of Port Kaituma and its satellite communities, the area the ferry was bound for when it went down.
The arrangement follows a sitting of the Commission on Monday, during which the Chairman and Commissioners agreed to make provisions for survivors and affected families to participate directly. INews Guyana reported that the Commissioners reconvened at the Lula Room of the conference centre before directing that the special sittings be held.
Rules changed so witnesses can speak without paperwork
In a move that lowers the barriers to testimony, the Commission has amended its Rules and Procedures to allow witnesses who have not submitted signed statements to give oral evidence. Under the new Rule 43A, witnesses with legal representation may have their attorneys lead their evidence-in-chief, following the customary procedures that govern the examination of witnesses in court.
Where a witness has no attorney, the Commissioners or Commission Counsel will lead the witness through their evidence. The rules also allow witnesses to be cross-examined, questioned, or re-examined by the Commissioners, Commission Counsel, and attorneys or parties granted standing before the Commission.
Persons who have not been granted standing may still apply to the Commissioners for permission to cross-examine a witness, either personally or through a lawyer. Rules 43 and 46 remain in force unless the Commissioners direct otherwise.
These procedural concessions matter. Bureaucratic hurdles are the quiet enemy of any inquiry, and a process that demands signed statements from grieving relatives scattered across riverain communities would have excluded the very people whose accounts count most.
Travel and logistics handled by the Secretariat
Travel arrangements and other accommodations for survivors and relatives of those who died or remain missing will be coordinated by the Secretariat. The public sittings are intended to give those directly affected by the disaster an opportunity to provide evidence as the inquiry continues examining the circumstances surrounding the loss of the vessel.
What happened on July 18
The MV Barima, a passenger and cargo ferry operated by the Transport and Harbours Department, departed the Kingston Goods Wharf in Georgetown at about 15:15h on July 18, 2026, on its scheduled journey to Port Kaituma in Region One. At approximately 23:01h, the vessel transmitted a distress signal after encountering difficulties near the mouth of the Pomeroon River.
There were 179 persons aboard, including 18 crew members. The tragedy claimed 73 lives, while 76 persons survived. Approximately 30 others remain unaccounted for.
Three T&HD employees have since been charged with murder in connection with the sinking and remanded to prison. The criminal proceedings are being heard before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Charity Magistrate's Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions has maintained that the criminal case and the inquiry can proceed concurrently, as they serve different legal purposes.
The Commission, appointed by the Government with five members, is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the sinking, including regulatory oversight and the emergency response, and to make recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence. Guyana Chronicle reported that the November hearings were scheduled specifically to accommodate survivors and families of missing passengers.
Why the inquiry must go beyond the crew
Seventy-three dead and roughly 30 missing is not merely a tale of individual failings on a single night. A state-owned ferry, operating a scheduled route under a government department, capsized with almost half of its passengers lost. The questions that follow reach beyond the crew: into the state of the vessel, the adequacy of safety inspections, the enforcement of passenger limits, and the speed and coordination of the emergency response on the Pomeroon.
Already the inquiry has heard from ordinary Guyanese caught up in the rescue. According to a report carried by EIN Presswire, fisherman Haresh Singh recounted to the Commission the recovery of 11 survivors from the water. His testimony, and the accounts expected next week, will build the human record of that night.
For the families of Region One in particular, the ferry was not a convenience but a lifeline, the state's principal link between the coast and the northwest. When a state monopoly on transport fails this badly, the inquiry owes the public more than a narrative of private fault. It owes a full accounting of public responsibility, and recommendations with teeth.
Survivors and relatives seeking further information about the November sittings can contact the Commission's Secretariat at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, 5-E Half Orchid Drive, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, by email, or through WhatsApp at 592-674-7473.
Frequently asked questions
When and where will the MV Barima CoI hearings be held?
The hearings run from November 16 to 19, 2026, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, with each day allocated to witnesses from specific regions and communities.
Can survivors testify without a signed statement?
Yes. The Commission amended its Rules and Procedures, adding Rule 43A, so witnesses who have not submitted signed statements may give oral evidence, with or without a lawyer.
How many people died in the MV Barima sinking?
The July 18, 2026 disaster claimed 73 lives out of 179 persons aboard. Seventy-six survived and approximately 30 remain unaccounted for.
Will the criminal case affect the inquiry?
No. The Director of Public Prosecutions has said the murder proceedings against three T&HD employees and the Commission of Inquiry can proceed concurrently because they serve different legal purposes.