His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali named a distinguished five‑member team to lead the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal sinking of the MV Barima.

The appointment, announced on Sunday morning, is made under Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, with the President emphasising transparency, accountability, and reform.

CARICOM’s High‑Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an Ad Hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, will serve as Chair.He is joined by Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a naval architect and marine engineer with experience in major maritime disaster investigations; Captain Hamada Fouda, Senior Maritime Surveyor and Compliance Auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Ms Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, an attorney‑at‑law specialising in Admiralty and Maritime Law; and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, a veteran of maritime operations and security.

The Commission’s terms of reference are sweeping. It will establish the full circumstances of the tragedy — from loading and boarding procedures to the capsizing itself — and review the adequacy of search, rescue, and recovery operations. It will evaluate compliance with laws, regulations, and standards governing ferries, determine whether negligence or misconduct contributed to the disaster, and inspect the vessel’s condition and maintenance history. The inquiry will also analyse environmental and operational factors such as weather, tides, currents, navigation, and communications, while it is expected to evaluate the competence and conduct of the master and crew. Passenger management will also be evaluated, including embarkation procedures, manifest preparation, possible overcrowding, cargo stowage, and the availability and use of life‑saving equipment. The Commission will also recommend legislative, regulatory, and institutional reforms to strengthen maritime safety, improve emergency preparedness, and reduce the likelihood of similar tragedies.

President Ali underscored that the necessary legal instruments are being formalised to give effect to the decision, after which the Commission will commence its work.

The President explained that his Government’s “commitment is to truth, justice, and safety”.

He also pledged that the inquiry will be thorough, independent, and aimed at putting the needed systems in place to prevent future tragedies.