HGP Nightly News – The government has called off the active search and recovery operation for victims of the MV Barima disaster, ending weeks of intensive work even as several recovered bodies remain unidentified.
The Office of the Prime Minister announced the decision on Tuesday but said the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre would remain operational to receive reports and coordinate any necessary response.
Passing vessels may still provide information about possible sightings or developments connected to the tragedy. Authorities said action would be taken if credible new information emerges.
Forensic specialists are continuing efforts to identify the remaining bodies. The government did not disclose how many were still awaiting positive identification but said relatives would be notified as soon as that process is completed.
The MV Barima capsized on July 18 while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma with passengers and cargo aboard.
The Transport and Harbours Department ferry sank about 10 nautical miles off the Region Two coast, between Better Success and Dartmouth. Scores of people died, others were injured and several passengers were initially reported missing.
The search and recovery effort involved state agencies, local fishermen, private boat operators and international support teams. With the active operation now over, attention is shifting more sharply towards the investigation of the disaster.
President Irfaan Ali has appointed a five-member Commission of Inquiry chaired by retired Belizean judge Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith.
The other members are Jamaican maritime surveyor Captain Hamada Fouda, retired Trinidad and Tobago Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard, Trinidadian attorney Nyree Dawn Alfonso and Polish naval architect and marine engineer Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski.
The commission has been given a broad mandate to examine the ferry’s seaworthiness, hull, stability, machinery, maintenance record and statutory approvals.
Passenger and cargo operations will also be investigated, including the accuracy of the manifests, the number of people aboard, possible overcrowding, the distribution of cargo and the availability of life-saving equipment.
The panel will examine the qualifications and conduct of the crew, their operational readiness and the decisions made before and during the emergency.
The search and recovery response will come under scrutiny as well. Investigators are expected to assess its speed, coordination and effectiveness, including the roles played by the Coast Guard, police, emergency services and local fishermen.
Regulatory oversight by the Transport and Harbours Department and the Maritime Administration Department will form another central part of the inquiry.
The commission may refer evidence of possible criminal negligence, official misconduct or breaches of the law to the relevant investigative and prosecutorial authorities.
