MV Barima families face barriers presenting evidence to COI

(Kaieteur News) – Frustration and disappointment mounted on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) as relatives of victims and survivors of the MV Barima maritime disaster left the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Secretariat without clear answers on how to submit critical evidence and secure permission to testify before the commission.

Several family members, including Jasmin Cort and Royston Frank, visited the Secretariat carrying envelopes containing formal applications for standing to appear before the commission. However, they said they received no clear guidance on the next steps, despite the inquiry’s significance and the urgent need for affected families to have their voices heard.

Full coveragePresident Ali Defends MV Barima Salvage Review as Questions Over Disaster Persist73 reports

Speaking to the media after the visit, Cort condemned what she said was the lack of preparation, communication and publicly accessible information, noting that families should not have to travel to Georgetown simply to find out how to participate in an inquiry into a tragedy that has devastated their lives.