Guyana Opposition Leader’s boat intercepted and taken for Coast Guard search

Guyana Police Force, at around 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday, in a joint maritime patrol spotted a high-speed vessel moving rapidly through the waters near the mouth of Demerara River. Police revealed that the officers directed the vessel to stop but it reportedly ignored the instruction and moved away at high speed, triggering a pursuit.

The vessel was subsequently caught at a wharf at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, through which Mohamed and two other people were found on the vessel. Police also claimed to be observing five more people who are believed to be travelling aboard.

A member of the police force stated the suspicion was that there might be something unlawful on a boat. Eventually the boat's inspection did not find any illegal articles aboard. However the vessel itself has been taken into the police custody as Mohamed failed to provide the vessel’s required document, stating the documents would be presented later.

In the course of the police chase, authorities also revealed observing a bag being dumped into the Demerara River from the vessel. Police stated, it has not yet been identified who dropped or what was inside, while efforts are ongoing to reveal it.

Mohamad on Wednesday morning stated that the vessel’s hull suffered damage during the police custody for nearly four hours.

However, currently there is no confirmed information whether the bag was carrying illegal drugs, weapons or other unauthorised goods. The incident eventually emerged into a two-hour long standoff between law-enforcement authorities and Mohamed alongside the WIN parliamentarians.

The vessel was subsequently taken into custody to GDF Coast Guard headquarters in Ruimveldt, Georgetown, officials concerned aimed to execute a search. Meanwhile Mohamed and other WIN MPs interrogated why the vessel did not comply and kept moving.

At the same time the opposition challenged the parts of the official narrative by the police. Mohamed and WIN MP and General Secretary Odessa Primus opposed the allegation that the vessel had been chased and caught while passing through waters, arguing it had already been docked.

She also informed that the opposition team had made a return from Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, to meet with the survivors and relatives of people who died in the MV Barima ferry disaster.

Reportedly, Primus also accused that the authorities could deliberately place something at the vessel.