Mohamed released on $100K bail after river standoff with joint services

(Kaieteur News) – Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has been released on $100,000 bail following a tense, six-hour maritime standoff on the Demerara River. The midnight operational confrontation culminated with joint services ranks intercepting a vessel transporting WIN opposition members of parliament Tabitha Sarabo Halley, Dawn Hastings Williams and Natasha Singh Lewis at Friendship, East Bank Demerara. Kaieteur News understands that Singh-Lewis was also released on $200,000 bail after being taken into custody at the Farm Police Station during the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The debacle unfolded just hours after members of the team had returned from visiting communities in Region One, where they met with grieving families and survivors of the recent MV Barima maritime tragedy.

The enforcement action center stage shifts to regulatory compliance after the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) issued a press release on 26th August, clarifying that based on official records, “neither the fast craft nor Mr. Azruddin Mohamed is licensed or otherwise authorised to operate.” MARAD warned that operating unregistered vessels presents a “serious and unacceptable risk to passengers, crew, other waterway users, property, and the marine environment,” cautioning that anyone operating without proper authorisation faces enforcement under applicable maritime safety laws.