A Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy hears how maritime and coast guard notifications were handled after a satellite distress alert was triggered by the vessel. Multiple witnesses describe how the emergency communications led to an immediate sequence of responses and rescues.
Outlets report differing timelines for how quickly related information was passed on. According to The Rio Times and one account from Guyana Chronicle, Guyana’s aviation authority sent the MV Barima distress coordinates to the Coast Guard about eight minutes after the first satellite alert. In contrast, INews Guyana and another Guyana Chronicle report say maritime authorities were notified within five minutes of the first satellite distress alert. In those testimonies, the emergency beacon transmitted its unique identification code, but witnesses say registration details did not clearly link the code to the specific beacon associated with the vessel.
Guyana Chronicle also reports that the Coast Guard’s emergency response resulted in 26 people being rescued by about 5:30 the following morning, as described during the inquiry by officers including staff at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport control tower. The accounts focus on communications, relay timing, and the role of the identification and registration information in directing the response.
