MV Barima – what could be expected

Aug 07, 2026 Editorial, News

Editorial…

(Kaieteur News) – Guyanese now have a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the MV Barima capsizing and much loss of life. There are Terms of Reference now part of the public record. What is to be expected, what will citizens get? On the more personal level, what will the families get? Where will the deliberations of this COI lead, with what recommendations made, what consequences applied?

There is already much that is disputed about the composition of the COI, how it came about. Each member will be watched. Every action scrutinised. We at this paper can foresee that it may come in for a hammering whatever its outcomes. We shall withhold comment, allow its work to proceed, and give it a chance to prove itself. There will be more than enough opportunity later to hail its work, or to give it any other kind of treatment that is reasonable, deserving.

No member of the COI has to be Guyanese to appreciate the emotional cauldron surrounding this disaster of a vessel and all the known and unknown issues surrounding its sinking to the bottom. Most importantly, no member of the COI can be unaware of the deaths so many, and of whom so many were children. It is now accepted that most were of poor local stock, with the majority from the indigenous community. To them belong the best of efforts. To their memory belong the right for each member of the COI to do his or her best duty. Despite the odds, in spite of its origins, the COI into the MV Barima capsizing can stand as a model of authentic inquiry. The very last thing for which it should stand is to give validation to the belief that it is yet another instance of how politics inserts itself and influences so much of what goes on locally.

A general point could be made about COIs. The MV Barima has a tight schedule. We think that this has its positives. What would be even more positive is that its report should be before the public in the swiftest time. Every area of its mandate presented in a clear and unflinching manner, with nothing obscured by redaction. What is there to withhold from Guyanese, particularly in a tragedy of such catastrophic proportions? Even in mature democracies, there have been occasions when COIs were caught in political tug of wars. The families are due, the various impacted communities, and the country itself are all in urgent need of learning the truths behind this capsized passenger and cargo vessel. The group that matters the most is that of grieving families, some shaken to the bone by the loss of multiple members. These citizens have the right of first call on the best foot that each one can offer. From the ashes of this tragedy, there can be space carved out for national learning and growing. Healing will require a much longer period.

It is a testing time. There have been serious failures at multiple times leading up to the tragedy. The same could be said of different levels, since the boat went down, took so many lives, and left huge wounds on the face of the nation. Every opportunity must be pursued with vigor and a commitment returning life to some state of normalcy. The worst possible outcome would be the same old politics to continue, as if nobody died. Or those who died do not matter that much. Evasive politics has condemned before, now the same raw, defensive politics is killing citizens in their numbers. There is sure to be enough blame to share around liberally, but that will have to bide its time.

For now, the conduct of everyone that has some relationship in these still early days of the tragedy has to reach another level. Transparency at its best is key. Sensitivity relative to the hurts of those impacted is another. We have not excelled in either of the two areas. Now is the chance to make a start, a start that is genuine. The government of Guyana and the people of Guyana can manifest that there is the will and skill to make it happen. The fallen and the surviving are due.

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capsizing, Commission of Inquiry, Editorial, MV Barima

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