Azruddin Mohamed and boat not licensed to operate – MARAD

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 August 2026, 22:00 by Writer

Hours after police and coast guard impounded a vessel and arrested its owner Azruddin Mohamed, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) said the city businessman was not approved to operate his go-fast boat in Guyana’s waters.

“Based on its records, neither the fast craft nor Mr. Azruddin Mohamed is licensed or otherwise authorised to operate,” MARAD said in a statement.

Mr Mohamed, who was up to earlier Wednesday under arrest, did not immediately respond to a request for reaction to the maritime sector’s regulator.

He and several We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) members of parliament (MPs) had shortly before they were contacted at his dock at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, returned from Port Kaituma and Mabaruma where they met with survivors and relatives of persons who died when the MV Barima sank last month about 10 miles off the Essequibo Coast.

During late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, Mr Mohamed, who is Guyana’s Opposition Leader, refused to provide certificates of registration and fitness as well as the captain’s licence when he was asked repeatedly by a law enforcement agent.

MARAD cautioned that persons found operating vessels without the required licences or authorisation might be subject to enforcement action in keeping with the laws and regulations.

MARAD said the the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, in keeping with the Defence Act, is empowered to enforce the provisions of every law relating to maritime safety and security.

MARAD urged all owners, operators, and users of Guyana’s waterways to ensure that their vessels and operations comply with all applicable legal and safety requirements.

The regulatory agency said 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 maritime environment.

These activities contribute to preventable maritime accidents and incidents and compromise the safety of Guyana’s waterways.

The go-fast craft was searched in the presence of Mr Mohamed and five other We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) MPs, who were also searched, and then towed to the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard at Ruimveldt.

Mr Mohamed earlier Wednesday said on a Facebook live coverage that his boat was used to recover several bodies in the aftermath of the sinking of the ferry, MV Barima, on July 18.