At a press conference held at the Ministry of Education, Thompson Blvd. on Thursday, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Transport and Aviation Archie Nairn announced that public hearings will begin on Sept. 15 at 10:00 a.m.
The hearings will be facilitated at the Ministry of Education office on Thompson Blvd.
Under the Merchant Shipping Act, Retired Supreme Court Judge Joseph Strachan has been appointed by the Minister responsible for Maritime Affairs, Glenys Hanna Martin, as Wreck Commissioner.
Assessors appointed to assist the Commissioner, in accordance with Section 243 of the Act, are former marine pilot, Sir Durward Knowles, and former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore, Leon Smith.
Captain Dwain Hutchinson of the Bahamas Maritime Authority London-based office, has been withdrawn as an assessor so as to avert a potential conflict of interest, as he may be called as an expert witness.
Lead counsel for the hearings, which are anticipated to last some two months, is Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl Grant-Bethel.
Mrs. Bethel has a first class Master's degree in Maritime law.
The Ministry of Transport and Aviation is working closely with the Office of the Attorney General during this preparatory phase and have identified stenographers, administrators, police officers and support staff who will ensure an efficient operation of the hearing.
The investigation will address the events surrounding the collision of the vessels, circumstances surrounding the collapse of the hydraulic crane used for lifting freight on and off the MV Sea Hauler, the circumstances surrounding the death of the four passengers as well as injuries sustained by the 25 passengers on the Sea Hauler, and the possible disappearance of passengers traveling on that vessel.
On completion of the formal investigation the Wreck Commissioner will submit a report and evidence gathered to the Minister of Transport and Aviation.
" The Ministry of Transport and Aviation expresses gratitude to all those who came forward and provided valuable information at the preliminary inquiry stage. We would also like to further encourage persons who were on either vessels at the time of the incident to step to the fore in the nation's best interest and give support to this formal investigation on a tragic and most unfortunate event," Mr. Nairn said.
He further expressed condolences to families affected by this great tragedy.
More than 45 of the 194 passengers came forward during the preliminary inquiry.
The inquiry report facilitated by a special committee, headed by Captain Glen Bain , a nautical inspector with the Bahamas Maritime Authority, was given to the Transport Minister, who in turn presented it to Cabinet.
Mr. Nairn said that although this report has been submitted, it is still too early to make a determination on the initial cause of the crash.
Depending on what the Commissioner's findings are, it is possible for criminal charges to filed he said.
"The use of the term preliminary inquiry, is first to gather preliminary data and information. That leads to another phase under the Merchant Shipping Act. This investigation, called a formal investigation, is more formal in scope. It is more involved. We're hoping that there is a high level of transparency in the proceedings and a high level of integrity as we move forward."
"We feel that the preliminary information that has been obtained will form the basis for what is to come in the formal investigation," he said.
A budget for the formal inquiry has not yet been fashioned he said.
By Vanessa C. Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
