On July 30, 2026, the Government of Guyana formally launched a landmark public inquiry into the deadly MV Barima maritime sinking, holding an official swearing-in ceremony for the five-member Commission of Inquiry tasked with unravelling the full circumstances of the disaster.
Heading the independent investigation is Godfrey Smith, a seasoned Senior Counsel from Belize, who took the solemn oath of office during the morning ceremony. In his oath, Smith pledged to fulfill his role as chair with unwavering faithfulness, complete transparency, and strict impartiality, committing to execute the duties entrusted to him by Guyanese President Dr. Irfaan Ali to the best of his professional ability. Following the oath administration, Smith was officially confirmed in his leadership position for the inquiry.
In a push for international independence and technical expertise, the Guyanese government has assembled a panel of global specialists for the commission: alongside Smith, four additional commissioners bring decades of maritime experience to the investigation, hailing from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Poland respectively.
This report is adapted from a transcribed broadcast of an evening television newscast, with all spoken content converted to written text using standardized spelling conventions for regional Kriol language where applicable.