Guyana Opposition Leader Rejects MV Barima Inquiry, Demands Ministers Step Aside

News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Thurs. Oct. 8, 2026: Guyana Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has declared he has 'absolutely no confidence' in the international Commission of Inquiry (COI) investigating the sinking of the state-operated M.V. Barima, telling affected families and the commission's own members Wednesday that the panel lacks the neutrality to deliver a credible outcome. Addressing families of victims and commissioners directly, Mohamed alleged that members of the five-person international panel have personal or close commercial ties to senior figures in the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, singling out commissioner Captain Hamada Fouda. News Americas Now has not independently verified these claims, which Mohamed has not substantiated with public evidence. Mohamed, whose We Invest in Nationhood party forms Guyana's parliamentary opposition, is calling for the inquiry to be rebuilt on terms he describes as truly independent, transparent and free of political interference. He said the opposition should have been consulted on the commission's composition from the outset, and he is demanding that Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Public Utilities Minister Deodat Indar step aside from any involvement in the process while they themselves appear before the commission to answer questions. The COI was established by President Dr. Irfaan Ali following the July 18th sinking of the MV Barima roughly 10 miles off the Essequibo Coast while the vessel was en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma with 179 passengers and crew aboard. Of those, 76 were rescued and 73 died, making it the worst disaster in Guyana's maritime history. Mohamed and his party maintain that ultimate responsibility for the tragedy rests with ministerial leadership rather than the vessel's lower-ranking crew, and have specifically demanded Edghill's resignation. Edghill's ministry oversees the Transport and Harbours Department, while Indar's portfolio includes the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the sector regulator. COI Chairman Justice Godfrey Smith, a former judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, has not ruled out summoning either minister. 'We have not reached that stage yet,' he told a news briefing after the inquiry's public hearings opened. 'But rest assured… the evidence will be followed wherever it leads, and if it becomes clear that we require the evidence of a minister, they will be asked to come before the Commission.' The inquiry is proceeding alongside a separate criminal matter. Three crew members – identified in court documents as captain Kevin Price, chief mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts and goods superintendent Delon Granderson – have been charged with murder in connection with the deaths. Their lawyers are contesting the charge on procedural grounds, arguing Guyana's Shipping Act requires a marine accident investigation before any criminal case can proceed; a magistrate is expected to rule on that challenge this month. Justice Smith has said the commission wants to hear from the three men but cannot compel testimony that might incriminate them in the pending criminal case. Over 30 remain missing after the MV Barima ferry capsized off Guyana's coast on July 18th, as officials deny overload claims and the opposition demands answers. The other members are Commission Secretary, Javid Shadick; Commissioner (Maritime Operations): Captain Hamada Fouda (Jamaica); Commissioner (Maritime Law): Nyree Dawn Alfonso (Trinidad and Tobago); Commissioner (Naval / Military Operations): Rear Admiral (Ret'd) Hayden Pritchard (Trinidad and Tobago); and Commissioner (Forensic Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering): Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski (Poland). The COI itself is not legally binding and has no power to award compensation, but Justice Smith has said its findings could serve as the basis for future civil or criminal proceedings. A salvage operation to recover the vessel, reportedly awarded to Guyanese firm BK International, is expected to begin this month, which commissioners say could yield additional forensic evidence largely intact despite months underwater. News Americas Now will continue to follow developments in the inquiry and the related criminal proceedings.