GEORGETOWN, Guyana – October 22, 2026 – The official inquiry into the July 18 capsizing of the MV Barima ferry has uncovered critical gaps in safety documentation for Guyana’s government-operated ferries, with a former senior maritime official admitting key certification paperwork was absent from official files when he left his post three years ago.
Retired Captain John Flores, who previously served as Director of Maritime Safety at the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and currently coordinates the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, testified under oath before the MV Barima Commission of Inquiry this Thursday, laying bare long-standing gaps in regulatory compliance for the nation’s public ferry fleet.
Polish forensic marine engineer Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski, an expert participating in the inquiry, pressed Flores specifically about the absence of core safety documents including loading certificates, tonnage documentation, and Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) certificates—all mandatory under international maritime regulations to ensure a vessel’s seaworthiness.
Flores confirmed that throughout his tenure leading maritime safety at MARAD, and up to the day he departed the role three years ago, no such certification documents existed in official files or were kept on board any older government ferries. When pushed by Jasionowski to clarify whether these documents were ever required for the nation’s public ferries, Flores acknowledged he could not confirm whether certifications were issued via seaworthiness assessments or annual mandatory surveys.
The retired captain recalled that during his time serving as Chief Inspector of Maritime Safety, he and his team of inspectors launched an effort to gather existing ferry records from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and began the process of reconstructing the missing documentation archive. However, the initiative was never completed, leaving the regulatory gap unaddressed.
When questioned specifically about safety deficiencies and certification records for the MV Barima itself, Flores said he could not recall any specific issues, directing the commission to check archived ship inspection records held by senior MARAD leadership. Those records, he noted, are currently in the possession of MARAD Director-General Stephen Thomas, who is scheduled to be the commission’s next witness.
Commission Chairman Justice Godfrey Smith has issued a formal directive requiring Thomas to bring the full set of inspection records and related documents to his testimony, rather than only attaching copies to his prepared witness statement.
As the line of questioning exposed the extent of the missing documentation and potential regulatory failures, Justice Smith adjourned the session briefly and advised Flores to retain independent legal counsel given his central role in the inquiry. On the outstanding question of whether Guyana’s government ferries are legally exempt from holding certain mandatory safety documentation, Flores told the commission he would need additional time to prepare a full response.