MV Barima CoI to last 6 months amid boycotts, protest over unsalvaged vessel

(Kaieteur News) – The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the MV Barima disaster will likely take up to six months to complete its work and produce a final report, despite a two-month timeframe initially mandated by the president.

Commission Secretary Javed Shadick at a press briefing on Tuesday explained that interviewing over 100 potential contacts, managing cross-examinations, and conducting regional field visits mean the two-month deadline is unrealistic. An interim or final report is now expected within six months.

The extended timeline coincides with a low initial turnout of witnesses, alongside deep hesitation from victims’ families over the sunken ship itself. According to Shadick, only one person has formally approached the secretariat to indicate an intent to provide evidence as sittings and site visits begin.