Guyanese President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced the members of an independent international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that will investigate the sinking of the MV Barima, which occurred on July 18.

In a video statement on Sunday, Ali said the five-member commission will be chaired by Justice Godfrey Philip Smith of Belize, CARICOM’s High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an ad hoc justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.

The other members are Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a naval architect and marine engineer who has advised on investigations into major maritime disasters; Captain Hamada Fouda, senior maritime surveyor and compliance auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago , an attorney specialising in admiralty and maritime law; and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, a maritime operations and security specialist.

Ali said the commission would determine its own procedures while carrying out its work.

According to the president, the inquiry will focus on “establishing the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy,” including the causes of the sinking, the loading of the vessel, passenger boarding procedures, conditions on board and any other factors that may have contributed to the disaster.

The commission will also examine the search, rescue and recovery operation, review whether maritime laws and safety procedures were followed, and determine whether negligence, misconduct or other failures by any individual or organisation played a role.

In addition, commissioners will assess the vessel’s condition and maintenance history, the actions of the captain and crew, weather and sea conditions, passenger management, cargo storage and the availability and use of life-saving equipment.

Based on its findings, the commission is expected to recommend changes to strengthen Guyana’s maritime sector.

Ali said those recommendations would include “legislative, regulatory, institutional and operational reforms” to improve maritime safety, enhance emergency preparedness and reduce the risk of similar tragedies occurring in the future.

The president said the legal instruments needed to formally establish the commission are “currently being formalised” and that once they are completed, the inquiry will begin its work in accordance with the law.

Seventy-three have been confirmed dead following the incident and that number is expected to climb as search and rescue efforts continue for the dozens of people still unaccounted for.