The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has rejected Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s allegations of political interference over the non-issuance of his captain’s licence, declaring that it will not be “politically influenced or intimidated” into granting a licence.
In a strongly worded statement issued yesterday, MARAD said Mohamed’s criticism over the matter was an attempt to turn what it described as an ordinary regulatory-compliance issue into a political controversy.
“A maritime licence is not a political favour. It is not a gift. And, most importantly, it is not an entitlement,” MARAD said.
The department said the submission of an application does not automatically create a right to a licence, explaining that the maritime regulator must first be satisfied that all applicable statutory, safety, competency and regulatory requirements have been met.
“That principle applies to everyone — Government official, businessman, politician, Opposition Leader or ordinary citizen. No one is above the law,” MARAD said.
The response follows comments made by Mohamed on Thursday, when he accused MARAD of deliberately delaying the renewal of his captain’s licence.
Mohamed said he had held a captain’s licence since 2012 and submitted an application for renewal on August 28, accompanied by his previous licence, certificates, birth certificate, identification card, passport photographs, a recommendation from another captain and medical reports covering his vision and hearing.
“Everything was above board. My vision is intact. I can hear well,” Mohamed said.
He complained that other captains who applied on the same day, and in some cases after him, had already received their licences, despite the process ordinarily taking between three and four days.
Mohamed characterized the delay as evidence that Guyanese were being treated as “prisoners and second-class citizens in our own country” under what he called a “wicked and spiteful administration.”
WIN parliamentarian Odessa Primus accompanied Mohamed to MARAD’s office on Thursday and said they were unable to obtain an update from Director General Captain Stephen Thomas.
According to Primus, Thomas did not meet with them but sent his secretary to indicate that no information was available on the application.
Primus described the situation as “utter nonsense” and argued that Mohamed was entitled to have his documents processed in the ordinary course.
She said Mohamed was seeking to comply with the law and required the licence to travel by water in conducting his work across the country.
MARAD, however, said its position is based on its statutory responsibility as Guyana’s maritime regulator.
The department said its official records show that neither the fast craft reportedly owned by Mohamed nor Mohamed himself was licensed or otherwise authorized to operate.
MARAD said the issue was particularly serious because operating a vessel without the necessary licence or authorization is a maritime safety matter.
It also referenced reports from the Joint Services concerning a recent incident involving the vessel, saying it was reportedly encountered at night travelling at high speed, signalled to stop and allegedly failed to comply, resulting in a pursuit before it was intercepted.
Those matters, MARAD said, remain for the competent authorities to investigate and determine.
The licensing dispute arose days after Mohamed was detained in connection with the go-fast boat.
Kiskadee Watch previously reported that the vessel was intercepted on August 25 at a wharf at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, after Mohamed and several opposition parliamentarians returned from an outreach to Region One, where they had met relatives and survivors of the MV Barima tragedy.
The vessel was searched and taken to Coast Guard headquarters, while Mohamed was detained and subsequently released on $100,000 station bail.
WIN subsequently disputed any suggestion that Mohamed had been operating the boat.
Mohamed’s account that he applied for renewal of his captain’s licence on August 28 places the application three days after that incident.
MARAD also raised Mohamed’s designation by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the Global Magnitsky sanctions programme.
The department noted that Mohamed is also facing extradition proceedings to the United States in relation to charges including tax evasion and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
MARAD said these circumstances mean that any responsible public authority dealing with a sanctioned person must carefully consider the potential legal, financial, banking, contractual and compliance consequences of a proposed transaction.
The department said it would therefore be “extraordinarily reckless” for the national maritime regulatory agency to issue a licence without taking those considerations into account.
MARAD stressed that its wider responsibility is to maintain safety standards on Guyana’s waterways and said those standards cannot be relaxed for individuals because of their political influence or financial resources.
“Political office does not confer a captain’s licence. Wealth does not confer a vessel licence. Popularity does not confer a vessel licence. Attacking the regulator does not cure non-compliance,” the department said.
MARAD also rejected the suggestion that its actions amounted to political persecution.
“That is not political persecution. That is regulation. That is accountability. And above all, that is the rule of law,” it said.
The department concluded that it would continue to carry out its regulatory responsibilities “without fear, favour, or political intimidation”.
Meanwhile, Primus said Mohamed would now take a “special interest” in MARAD, with the opposition intending to make regular visits to the agency and highlight what it considers deficiencies.
The licence dispute remains ongoing.
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