Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 9:19 by Denis Chabrol
A screen grab from Akim Hercules’ Facebook video showing damage to the vessel while it was at an interior location.Mr Azruddin Mohamed’s picture showing the same damaged area to the boat while moored at the marine wing of the Guyana Police Force.
Even as Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Tuesday morning remained in police custody, evidence surfaced to dispute his claim that his go-fast boat was damaged while in marine police possession.
Mr Mohamed was arrested by police after he failed to provide the registration, fitness and captain’s licence after marine police and coast guard pulled up alongside his vessel at his dock on Friendship, East Bank Demerara.
Earlier Tuesday at 6:54 AM, Mr Mohamed posted pictures on his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page alleging that his boat was damaged after a mere four hours in police detention. “Photos can clearly show the deliberate act by this administration to damage Mohamed’s property. The boat was purposely left on the dock to damage the bottom or hull of the boat, with the engine foot resting on the dock too,” he said.
That allegation contrasts with a Facebook post at 5:36 AM Tuesday by Akim Hercules which shows what appears to be the identical damage to the go-fast boat while on a river in an interior location. Mr Mohamed and five other parliamentarians of the main opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party were aboard the vessel. “This situation truly broke my heart. You came to Region One to do humanitarian work—to assist the relatives, families, and survivors who were affected by the tragic MV Barima disaster. This has nothing to do with politics,” Mr Hercules said.
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed seated at the Ruimveldt Police Station.
The WIN parliamentary team on Tuesday travelled to Port Kaituma and Mabaruma where they met with survivors and relatives of those who perished in the July 19 sinking of the MV Barima ferry while it was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
Based on a Facebook Live post on the Team Mohamed’s page, Mr Mohamed said he could not provide the certificate of registration, fitness and captain’s licence to law enforcement agents upon their request. Mr Mohamed and other parliamentarians also insisted that the vessel be searched at his dock at Friendship. Eventually, the boat was escorted to the police marine wing at Ruimveldt where it and its occupants were searched.
A statement concerning the Opposition Leader’s arrest state that while he was leaving the marine police headquarters, he requested documentation confirming the detention of the vessel. Instead, the statement says he was invited to sign a statement prepared by the police. Mr. Mohamed reportedly declined to sign the statement and was subsequently informed that he was under arrest pursuant to the “Maritime Act”, according to the statement issued to the media.
The statement says matters of significant concern are that the vessel was already docked when the servicemen arrived, and Mr. Mohamed was not operating the vessel; the vessel was searched following the request by the authorities, and nothing illegal was found; no formal seizure or detention notice has been provided to Mr. Mohamed in relation to the vessel, no specific provision of the Shipping Act has been identified or cited as the legal basis for the detention of the vessel, and no specific provision of the Shipping Act has been identified or cited as the legal basis for Mr. Mohamed’s arrest.
“The circumstances surrounding the continued detention raise serious questions about whether the actions being taken are based on a legitimate enforcement process or on external directives and political considerations,” the statement says.
WIN believes that the police force and the Guyana Defence Force are being weaponised against that party, with Tuesday’s specific action following the parliamentarians’ visits to meet with those affected by the MV Barima ferry tragedy. Mr Mohamed told them not to sign any documents concerning payments by government as perceived compensation. He and his team informed residents that several lawyers were available to provide free legal services.
