Edghill Defers Questions on MV Barima Inquiry Submissions

Kaieteur News reported that Juan Edghill deferred questions on Friday about his participation in the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima incident. Its opening account says he was asked whether he had submitted evidence; a later passage describes the question as whether he had been asked to make a submission. The report does not establish whether he submitted evidence. Edghill said he was not part of the commission and would speak about the matter at an appropriate time.

On oversight, Edghill said the vessel was part of the Transport and Harbours Department fleet, for which he had ministerial responsibility, while aspects related to MV Barima fell under the Ministry of Public Utilities. Asked why he had previously led public briefings rather than Public Utilities Minister Indar, he said the questions conflated different responsibilities, according to Kaieteur News.

The report said the inquiry had been accepting submissions for weeks. It also described the incident as having occurred two months earlier and said affected families were holding weekly demonstrations calling for Edghill’s resignation. Those circumstances formed the context for questions about his responsibility and his role in the inquiry; the report does not say whether he made a submission.