…boat unregistered, Mohamed not licensed to operate vessel – MARAD

…MP arrested over firearm found in vehicle, released on $200,000 bail

Following the arrest of United States (US)-sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and the impounding of his boat by the Joint Services late Tuesday evening, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has revealed that the vessel was unregistered and Mohamed was not licensed to operate the vessel. On Tuesday evening, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Coast Guard intercepted a go-fast vessel at Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD). According to the police, the vessel had entered the Demerara River at high speed and failed to stop at a siren signal. The vessel was eventually intercepted at a wharf at Friendship, where Mohamed and several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) were found onboard.
Based on a video the Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, the boat was towed after failure to produce the necessary documentation to law enforcement. According to MARAD in a statement on Wednesday, “…based on its records, neither the fast craft nor Mr Azruddin Mohamed is licensed or otherwise authorised to operate.” The maritime regulatory body pointed out that the operation of vessels by unlicensed persons, or the use of unlicensed or unregistered vessels, presents a serious and unacceptable risk to passengers, crew, other waterway users, property and the marine environment. “These activities contribute to preventable maritime accidents and incidents and compromise the safety of Guyana’s waterways. Persons found operating vessels without the required licences or authorisation may be subject to enforcement action in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,” the missive detailed.

Comply with law, safety requirements
To this end, MARAD is urging all owners, operators and users of Guyana’s waterways to ensure that their vessels and operations comply with all applicable legal and safety requirements. It went onto remind that the GDF’s Coast Guard, pursuant to its mandate under the Defence Act, Cap. 15:01, is empowered to enforce the provisions of every law relating to maritime safety and security. The Police Force, in a statement just before midnight on Tuesday, said a routine joint maritime patrol observed a ‘go-fast’ vessel entering the mouth of the Demerara River at a high rate of speed at approximately 21:45h. The vessel was signalled by siren to stop but failed to comply, prompting a pursuit. It was subsequently intercepted at Friendship. “Upon arrival, three persons were found aboard the vessel, including the Leader of the Opposition (LOO). Five other persons, suspected to have travelled aboard the vessel were observed at the wharf facility,” the GPF noted.
In a subsequent statement hours later, the police said “During the pursuit, ranks reported observing a bag being thrown from the vessel into the Demerara River. At this stage, it has not been determined who threw the bag or what it contained.”
Nevertheless, it was noted that efforts are ongoing to locate and recover the bag and determine its contents as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, the Opposition in its own statement on Wednesday, said the vessel was towed to the Marine Wing of the Ruimveldt Police Station, where it was searched but nothing illegal was found.

Firearm found
Additionally, Opposition MP Natasha Singh-Lewis was arrested for alleged unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The weapon was found in her vehicle while she was leaving the Friendship facility. However, the Opposition said the firearm is licensed to MP Dawn Hastings, who had placed the weapon along with her other belongings in Singh-Lewis’ vehicle since they intended to travel down to Georgetown together on Tuesday evening before being intercepted by the joint services. MP Singh-Lewis was eventually released on station bail to the tune of $200,000 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, in the video recorded during the interception, one of the Opposition MPs can be heard making discretionary racial remarks against a young Amerindian captain in one of the vessels.

Repeat offender
Tuesday’s interception comes of the heels of a similar incident earlier this month when the Coast Guard flagged a vessel transporting the US-indicated man to Region One (Barima-Waini) for not having the relevant documentations. On August 5, the GDF said Coast Guard ranks stationed at the Pomeroon Floating Base stopped and inspected a vessel transporting Mohamed and others as part of routine operations.
The GDF had explained that the vessel’s captain failed to produce required licences and certification for its voyage to Region One. In accordance with established procedures, all vessel operators are required to register their journey with the Floating Base and present a valid Boat Master’s Licence, Vessel Licence and Certificate of Inspection before proceeding. However, the captain of Mohamed’s vessel was unable to produce the required licences and certification. As a result, the vessel was directed to return to Charity to obtain the relevant documentation before resuming its voyage. However, despite knowing why he was stopped and the failure to produce the licence, Mohamed released a video on social media, complaining of being stopped by Coast Guard ranks while on route to Region One where he planned to engage in protests. Nevertheless, these two incidents of maritime breaches come on the heels of the Opposition Leader just last month being critical of MARAD and its handling of safety on Guyana’s waterways following the MV Barima tragedy on July 18. In fact, Mohamed and his MPs were returning from a Region One outreach where they engaged the survivors and families of victims from this tragedy, when they were incepted on Tuesday night.

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