…companies being shortlisted to salvage vessel

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday disclosed that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy is expected to begin groundwork next month. “The team is in place, they’ve started looking at their procedures, setting their procedures and working out their workplan and from what I’m told, in early September, the actual work would commence here on the ground,” he told a news conference at the Office of the President on Tuesday. The five members of the CoI were sworn in on July 30. They are Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, the chairman, Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, Captain Hamada Fouda of Jamaica, and Attorney Nyree Dawn Alfonso and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard, both of Trinidad and Tobago.

Secretary to the Commission, Attorney Javid Shadick last week reported that works are ongoing to review the constitutional and legal framework to ensure the inquiry is conducted properly and without any complications. Additionally, he said arrangements for the public hearings are being finalised. In the meantime, President Ali assured that efforts remain ongoing to support those affected by the tragedy. He said consideration is also being given to establishing a special home to provide care and support for the children affected by the tragedy. “The priority is to ensure, especially where children, women and parents are involved, to ensure that we have close connections from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Human Services with those families,” he explained, referring to the Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust (HEART) initiative, which will provide long-term, multistakeholder assistance.