Justice Godfrey Smith to Lead Guyana Ferry Disaster Inquiry

Belizean jurist Justice Godfrey Philip Smith has been appointed to lead the Commission of Inquiry investigating the deadly MV Barima ferry disaster in Guyana.  Justice Smith was sworn in virtually on Thursday as chairman of the five-member commission. The ceremony was held before Guyana’s Chief Justice Judy Latchman and attended by President Irfaan Ali.  Smith, a former Attorney General and Foreign Minister of Belize, currently serves as CARICOM’s High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and as an ad hoc judge of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.  President Ali said the panel meets the highest standards of independence, impartiality and objectivity. He pledged his government’s full support as the commission seeks to establish what caused the vessel to sink and whether maritime laws and safety procedures were followed.  The MV Barima was reportedly carrying 179 passengers and crew when it sank earlier this month. Authorities recovered 72 bodies and rescued 76 people, while 30 others remain unaccounted for.  Under Smith’s leadership, the commission will also examine the effectiveness of the search, rescue and recovery operations, identify any failures and recommend reforms to strengthen Guyana’s maritime transportation system.  The other commissioners are maritime experts from Poland, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.