GUYANA | Walton Desir wants PPP Gov't to 'come clean' on Guyana registry of seized cargo ship in Senegal

GEORGETOWN January 21, 2022 - Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Amanza Walton Desir wants the Government of Guyana to come clean on its relationship with the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana, the agency that reportedly registered the vessel that was held in Senegal, West Africa, with three containers of ammunition valued at five million US dollars. 

In a statement last evening in response to news on the ammunition bust on the Guyana flagged vessel, a statement from the government said: “Guyana’s  Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) says it notes with concern the recent detention of the Motor Vessel EOLIKA purportedly bearing Guyana registration, by Senegalese Customs authorities. The vessel’s registration expired on 10th December 2022.”

A cargo ship carrying three shipping containers laden with US$5 million worth of ammunition is not registered in Guyana and is not due here, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) said Thursday night.

According to the Guyanese Maritime Agency, the vessel in question is not contained in the local ships’ registry. MARAD believes that the ship’s registration documents were issued by the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana (IMSAG), an entity with which the administration had severed all ties since 13th August, 2021.

However, Walton Desir who is also a maritime lawyer, pointed out that under the Regulations, if a Guyanese ship is at sea or a foreign port when it becomes due to be registered, a proper officer may issue a provisional certificate which could be in place for as long as six months or when the vessel returns to its home port.

She said it is therefore disrespectful to the people of Guyana for the government to issue a release that suggests that the expiration of the vessel’s registration one month ago, somehow absolves the Administration and renders the vessel of no concern to Guyana.

In relation to the ties between MARAD and the International Agency which has been registering vessels for Guyana, the Opposition MP pointed out that based on documents, MARAD first entered into an agreement with the India-based agency in February 2021 and dispatched letters to various international organisations informing them of that decision in May last year.

She said “in November last year, the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana was still informing international organisations of its role as representative for the Guyana Maritime Administration Department.

This was happening even as the Department claims that the agreement was severed in August.

But under the agreement between MARAD and the International Agency, there is a required notice period of twelve (12) months by either party for withdrawal of the authorization.

The international maritime lawyer said therefore, if one wants to believe that MARAD ended the agreement in August, it still remains in place for 12 months, ending in August of this year.

She  said the government should now make the termination agreement public and any corresponding notice to international agencies.The Maritime Administration Department says it has subsequently notified all regional, and international bodies and organizations of the effective termination of all arrangements with IMSAG.

It has also  advised on the veracity of registration certificates issued to vessels by IMSAG. As a result, several vessels have been detained in various ports for false registration documents.

MARAD says it has assured that it will continue to actively monitor this incident, and will spare no effort in protecting the image of the Guyana flag.

Walton-Desir queried however, “How can Guyanese be sure that there is not currently in existence, an international network of vessels flying under the Guyana flag involved in all manner and sorts of nefarious activities?” 

The PPP/C administration continues to demonstrate their incompetence to conduct our foreign affairs, maintain law and order and meet the obligation of international treaties to which we are party”, Walton Desir said.

Guyanese police say that they have launched a probe into the seizure of the ammunition aboard the purportedly Guyana-flagged vessel in Dakar, Senegal.

In the meantime, the police say they are working with Regional and International Law Enforcement agencies and have alerted the INTERPOL General Secretariat.

Guyanese police say they want INTERPOL to assist with the questioning of one Suneil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana that is involved in the registration of motor vessels.

After news surfaced that US$5 million worth of ammunition was found aboard the  MV  EOLIKA and that it was bearing the Guyana flag, the Maritime Administration (MARAD)  of Guyana said it had already severed ties with that entity since last year.

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