Democratic Party submits 18 questions to the TRNC parliament over vessel sinking off Girne

Democratic Party (DP) Secretary-General and Girne MP Serhat Akpınar responded to TRNC Minister of Transport and Construction Erhan Arıklı, who called the 18 written questions submitted by the opposition a publicity stunt. “We do not want a polemic; we want documents,” Akpınar said.

The questions were submitted to parliament after the Filo Jet catamaran sank off Girne: eight people died, 20 are listed as missing, and the search has entered its fourth day.

The first group of questions concerns the vessel’s authorization to carry passengers: which agency issued the permit, when and on what grounds it was issued, which technical certificates were submitted beforehand, when the catamaran underwent a physical inspection, what defects had previously been recorded, and whether the condition of the hull and safety systems had been checked.

The second group of questions concerns the crew: where the captain’s and crew’s certificates were issued, whether they comply with the international STCW Convention on the training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers, how many passengers the vessel was permitted to take on board and how many were on board on the day of the sinking, and whether the weather and sea conditions had been assessed before departure from the port.

The third group is addressed to the relevant agencies themselves: who is on the investigation commission, whether the ministry has reviewed its own permit-issuing procedure, whether the documents will be submitted to parliament, and who will bear political responsibility if negligence is confirmed.

Akpınar stressed that the party was not passing judgment in advance and was seeking a technical examination and official documents. “This position requires its duties to be carried out, not merely occupied,” he said.