Nearly one and a half months after a deadly boat collision claimed four lives and left multiple people injured off the coast of Saint Lucia, a formal Commission of Inquiry has officially begun its work, following the swearing-in of four appointed commissioners at a ceremony held on Tuesday morning. The incident, which occurred on July 18 between two Castries-registered vessels — the Ocean Angel (official number SL077875) and the Cazorla Jr. (official number SL078180) — at Anse Cochon in Anse La Raye, shocked the small Caribbean nation and prompted authorities to launch a comprehensive public investigation to uncover the root causes of the tragedy.
Appointed by Acting Governor General Felix Finisterre on the advice of Saint Lucia’s Cabinet on September 4, the inquiry is led by retired Justice Mario Michel, a seasoned legal figure chosen to chair the independent commission. Joining Michel on the panel are Cuthbert Didier, an experienced maritime consultant, retired Police Superintendent Kentry Frederick, and current Assistant Police Commissioner Luke De Freitas. Shahida Charlemagne-Octave will serve as the commission’s legal counsel, with retired public servant Lenita Joseph taking on secretarial responsibilities to coordinate administrative and logistical work.
At the swearing-in ceremony hosted at the Governor General’s official residence in Morne Fortune, Finisterre extended his congratulations to the newly seated commissioners, expressing unwavering confidence in their ability to deliver a thorough, transparent investigation. “I wish to congratulate all of you, especially Chairman, Justice Mario Michel. I know we’ll get some good recommendations in terms of what really happened,” Finisterre told attendees, thanking the panel members for agreeing to take on this critical public assignment.
Michel accepted the weight of the mandate, acknowledging the profound significance of the commission’s work for the victims’ families and the broader maritime community in Saint Lucia. He pledged that the entire panel would work collaboratively to uphold the public trust placed in them. “I don’t think we’ll underestimate the severity of the responsibility, and the significance of it. But, we will certainly endeavour to the best of our collective abilities, live up to the confidence that you have reposed in us,” Michel said.
Beyond determining the exact sequence of events and contributing factors that led to the July 18 collision, the commission carries a broader policy-focused mandate. It is tasked with conducting a full review of Saint Lucia’s existing legislative and regulatory framework governing maritime activity, maritime safety, and accident investigation. This review will cover provisions in key pieces of national legislation including the Civil Code, the Shipping Act, the Police Act, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority Act, the Customs (Control and Management) Act, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act. The panel will also examine existing standard operating procedures and safety protocols for all maritime operations across the country.
The commission’s final recommendations are expected to guide the drafting of a fully updated, modern Maritime Act for Saint Lucia, with the overarching goal of closing regulatory gaps and preventing similar deadly tragedies from occurring in the future.
All inquiry proceedings will be held at the Parliament Chamber in Castries’ Parliament Building on Laborie Street, and are open to the general public, though the commission retains the authority to close sessions if necessary to maintain order or protect the integrity of the investigation. Members of the public with relevant information are actively encouraged to contribute by submitting written evidence or giving oral testimony directly to the commission. To participate, interested individuals can contact Secretary Lenita Joseph via phone at (758) 285-6273, or reach out via email at inquirymaritime@govt.lc or lenita.joseph758@gmail.com.
The commission is scheduled to conduct its work through March 8, 2027, with Chairman Michel required to submit the panel’s final public report by that deadline.