HGP NIGHTLY NEWS- In a rare display of political unity, Guyana’s major opposition parties have jointly…

HGP NIGHTLY NEWS- In a rare display of political unity, Guyana’s major opposition parties have jointly endorsed the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the MV Barima tragedy while rejecting the process surrounding its formation and calling for a wider investigation into the disaster. In a joint statement issued by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), the Alliance For Change (AFC), and the Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC), the parties said they welcomed President Irfaan Ali’s decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry, noting that they had consistently called for an independent probe into the tragedy. The opposition said the sinking of the MV Barima, which claimed dozens of lives and devastated families across Guyana, demands a thorough, transparent, credible and independent examination to determine exactly what went wrong. However, the parties expressed disappointment that there was no consultation with the parliamentary opposition or other national stakeholders regarding the composition of the Commission, arguing that broader consultation would have enhanced public confidence in the process. The joint opposition also argued that the Commission of Inquiry should not replace Parliament’s constitutional responsibility to scrutinize the tragedy and insisted that Guyana should conduct a separate technical marine safety investigation in keeping with International Maritime Organization standards. According to the parties, such an investigation would focus on determining the technical causes of the disaster and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, separate from issues of political accountability. Additionally, the opposition said the Commission’s mandate must extend beyond operational matters to examine ministerial oversight, regulatory enforcement, emergency preparedness, administrative decision-making, resource allocation and any systemic failures within government that may have contributed to the tragedy. The parties further questioned the appointment of the Commission’s Secretary, saying the position must remain free from any actual or perceived conflict of interest to preserve public confidence. The joint statement also renewed calls for Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar to resign or, at minimum, proceed on leave until the inquiry is completed, arguing that their continued oversight of ministries likely to come under investigation could undermine confidence in the independence of the process. The parties concluded by pledging their support for every genuine effort to uncover the truth, secure justice for the victims and their families, strengthen public confidence in state institutions, and ensure that meaningful reforms emerge from one of Guyana’s worst maritime disasters in recent history.