The National Assembly on Thursday approved a motion calling for the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate local maritime and riverain incidents since 1999 and make recommendations to ensure safe travel and future loss of life.
Over the last 18 months, 42 persons have died in riverain and coastal accidents and the death toll of 25 last year was highest in the last decade.
Opposition Leader David Granger moved the motion, which was carried by votes from opposition members while government members remained silent. “We feel that the COI is necessary because of the repetitive nature of fatal accidents on the rivers, because of the prevalence of lawlessness on our rivers and our coastal waters, and because of vulnerability of innocent commuters of these accidents. Therefore we call on this house to
