The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the July 2026 MV Barima tragedy will commence formal sittings on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Secretary to the Commission, attorney Javed Shadick, during a press conference.

The first sitting will mark the start of the Commission’s evidence-gathering phase, with persons who have been formally summoned expected to appear and provide evidence.

The inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the MV Barima, which claimed dozens of lives and left several others unaccounted for.

It will also examine the events leading up to the tragedy, the actions taken during the incident and the subsequent search-and-rescue operation, as the Commission seeks to establish what caused the disaster and whether any failures contributed to the loss of life.