GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali on Friday announced the establishment of a Safety and Compliance Audit Team that will conduct a comprehensive review of the safety and compliance standards governing marine vessels operating in Guyana.

Ali said that the establishment of the new team forms part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime safety and prevent future tragedies.

The move comes in the wake of the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima, which according to officials manifest, was carrying 179 passengers and crew as it made its way from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, a small village within the Barima-Waini administrative region of the country.

The authorities say 72 bodies have so far been recovered, 76 others rescued and at least 30 people remain unaccounted for.

On Friday, a government statement said that the coordinated search and recovery operations remain ongoing, but that there “are no additional verified developments beyond the information previously communicated.

“Further press briefings will be convened when significant and verified operations developments arise. In the interim, any information relevant to the ongoing operations will be communicated through the established channels. The government of Guyana remains committed to supporting the affected families, maintaining the integrity of the ongoing operations and ensuring that the public receives accurate and verified information” the statement said.

Ali said that the three-member team will comprise former director-general of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Dr Ivor English; Colonel Julius Skeete of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF); and Marine Officer and Surveyor of Ships, Captain Joseph Lewis.

He said that the members bring together extensive technical expertise, practical experience and specialised knowledge in marine administration, maritime operations, and the inspection and surveying of ships.

Ali said that the team has been tasked with undertaking “a comprehensive assessment of compliance with applicable maritime safety requirements governing vessels operating in Guyana.

“It will also make recommendations to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve enforcement mechanisms and ensure that vessels, operators and the country’s regulatory systems adhere to the highest practicable standards of safety and accountability,” he stated.

Ali said that the establishment of the Safety and Compliance Audit Team forms part of a broader series of government interventions to improve maritime safety, reinforce public confidence in water transportation and help prevent similar incidents in the future.

On Thursday, a five-member Commission of Inquiry was sworn into office to investigate the sinking of the 87-year-old MV Barima, regarded as the country’s worst maritime disaster.

The statement Friday said that the commission, chaired by Justice Godfrey Philip Smith of Belize “will now proceed independently with its mandate to examine the circumstances of the incident and present its findings, observations and recommendations upon completion of its work”.