MV Barima Commission of Inquiry faces scrutiny over data and transparency

A Commission of Inquiry investigating the MV Barima disaster, which claimed over 100 lives, has revealed significant confusion regarding passenger and survivor counts during the initial emergency response. Rickford Samaroo, Director of Air Navigation Services at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, testified that some figures recorded during the response were sourced from media releases rather than official logs. This contributed to discrepancies between the official manifest and the actual number of people rescued.

Simultaneously, the inquiry is facing criticism regarding its transparency. Families of victims in remote Region One communities have expressed frustration over being unable to access proceedings due to a ban on livestreaming the hearings. While media members are permitted to attend and record audio, the prohibition on digital streaming has led to calls from political leaders and civil society for the decision to be reversed to ensure practical access for grieving relatives and the wider public.