No permission for Mohamed’s vessels to operate in Guyana

Last Updated on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, 21:52 by Writer

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Tuesday said no permission has been granted to Hadi’s World or any of its vessels to operate in Guyana’s waters.

“The Administration is in receipt of a request for cabotage exemptions for the vessels: Motor Tug Amelia, Motor Tug Machelo, Deck Barge Miriam and Deck Barge Carmelia, from Hadi’s World, signed by its company secretary, Azruddin Mohamed. This request has not been granted,” said MARAD an agency of the Ministry of Public Works.

No reason was given by MARAD for declining the request.

Hadi’s World, its Secretary Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed were in June 2024 sanctioned by the United States’ Treasury Department’s Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for allegedly evading US$50 million in taxes for 10,000 kilogrammes of gold.

MARAD also stated that any previous exemptions granted have expired and consequently, those vessels are not lawfully allowed to operate within Guyana. A senior maritime sector official had said the previous exemptions had been granted to allow the vessels to transport stone aggregate for a “national project”.

MARAD reiterated that the vessels: Motor Tug Amelia, Motor Tug Machelo, Deck Barge Miriam and Deck Barge Carmelia “are not authorised to operate within Guyana.”

The MARAD warned that any vessel conducting cabotage operations without a permit shall be subject to detention and/or any other penalties under the laws of Guyana.

Almost immediately after the US sanctions, the Bank of Guyana had revoked the Mohameds foreign currency dealers (cambio) licence.