MV Barima CoI: Families decry lack of information, guidance from Secretariat

(Kaieteur News) – Relatives of the victims and survivors of the July 18 MV Barima maritime disaster are raising serious concerns over a lack of communication and procedural clarity from the secretariat of the Commission of Inquiry.

Despite formal public hearings scheduled to commence on Wednesday, October 14, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, grieving families report being left in the dark regarding basic processes, the precise purpose of engagement meetings, and how to present evidence to the panel.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, several family members expressed growing frustration with the secretariat, which is headed by attorney Javed Shadick. According to affected relatives specifically from Region One, communication from the secretariat has been fragmented and confusing. Relatives reported attending or being invited to preliminary sessions without receiving prior agendas or clear explanations as to what the engagements aimed to achieve. Regarding the meeting being held today with the commissioners, families reported being told “yesterday about a meeting we gotta attend, we don’t know about what.”