GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Nov 14, CMC – Earlier identification of the MV Barima, more effective communication and stronger coordination among responders could have improved the search-and-rescue operation following the vessel’s sinking, Captain John Flores told the Commission of Inquiry on Friday.
Returning to give further evidence into the July 18, 2025 tragedy, Flores, director of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), acknowledged that more reliable information during the initial hours of the emergency could have allowed authorities to deploy resources more effectively.
He agreed with commissioners that identifying the distress signal as coming from the Barima, which was carrying a large number of people, would have helped authorities assess the scale of the emergency and determine the appropriate response.
During the exchanges, Flores acknowledged that earlier identification could have provided approximately one additional hour for the rescue operation.
A key issue examined by the inquiry was the vessel’s Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), which transmits distress alerts to search-and-rescue authorities.
Commissioners noted that although the beacon was registered, it lacked vital information and had an expired battery, matters identified in a November 2025 inspection report. Flores agreed that having information linking the distress signal to the Barima would have helped determine the scale of the response.
The inquiry also examined communication between the coordination team, fishermen, Coast Guard personnel and other responders during the early stages of the operation.
Flores acknowledged that communication could have been better, explaining that information reached the coordination team through different channels and that it was not possible to maintain direct contact with every fisherman involved in the search.
He nevertheless recognised the contribution of fishermen to the rescue effort and agreed that more efficient information-sharing could have improved coordination.
By approximately 3:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., he said, the team had developed a clearer understanding of the locations of responders and how the operation was progressing.
Flores also acknowledged limitations in establishing radio contact and confirmed that the Barima was not equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS), which could have provided another means of identifying and tracking the vessel.
As director of the MRCC, established in 2023, Flores pointed to the centre’s development as part of efforts to strengthen Guyana’s maritime emergency response.
At his earlier appearance before the inquiry, he disclosed that the centre would soon be able to receive satellite distress alerts directly, eliminating the existing relay through air traffic control at Timehri.
The commission had previously acknowledged that responders had done “quite well” given the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Beyond the rescue operation, Flores discussed his earlier work as Director of Maritime Safety to improve vessel records and obtain documentation from the Transport and Harbours Department, explaining that proper records were important in understanding vessels and their operating characteristics.
Asked whether he would recommend that all vessels, including state-owned vessels, carry the necessary documentation on board, he said yes.
His testimony focused on both the challenges encountered during the Barima rescue and the improvements that could strengthen preparedness and coordination in future maritime emergencies.
CMC/ed/2026