Guyana’s MV Barima Inquiry Inspects Repair Sites Ahead of October 14 Hearings

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Commissioners investigating the fatal sinking of the MV Barima visited two East Bank Demerara dry docks Friday that had handled maintenance and repairs on the vessel, continuing their preparations for oral hearings scheduled to begin October 14. The five-member panel’s October 9 inspections followed visits to maritime agencies and Georgetown port facilities the previous day. Both dry docks had worked on the ferry at different times before its July 18 sinking, according to a statement issued by the inquiry’s secretary and published by Guyana’s Department of Public Information. The statement described the visits as preliminary fact-finding intended to help commissioners understand facilities and operations relevant to the investigation. On October 8, the panel inspected the Transport and Harbours Department’s Goods Wharf in Kingston, Georgetown, and visited that department and the Maritime Administration Department. DPI’s account of Thursday’s work said commissione...