26/08/2026
NEWS Source: Statement issued by Office of the Leader of the Opposition
"Leader of the Opposition Detained Following Search and Towing of Private Vessel
At approximately 10:15 p.m., members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and Coast Guard arrived at the wharf at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, at the premises of the Leader of the Opposition.
At the time of their arrival, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Mohamed, was seated aboard a privately owned vessel that was docked at the wharf, along with Members of Parliament Odessa Primus and Natasha Lewis. Members of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Dawn Hastings-Williams, and Deon LaCruz were standing on the wharf.
The servicemen requested permission to search the vessel. When asked under what authority or basis the search was being conducted, the officer in charge stated that the officers had โreasonable suspicionโ of illegal activity.
What followed was a prolonged engagement during which the conduct of the officers appeared increasingly disproportionate and, in our view, raised serious concerns about the possible misuse of state authority and resources.
The officers subsequently called for reinforcements, disconnected the vessel from the dock, and towed it to the Marine Wing of the Ruimveldt Police Station, where a search of the vessel was conducted.
Nothing illegal was found on the vessel.
Despite this, the police informed Mr. Mohamed that the vessel was being detained. When asked for the reason for the detention, officers indicated that relevant documentation for the vessel had not been produced.
Upon leaving the facility, Mr. Mohamed requested documentation confirming the detention of the vessel. Instead, he was invited to sign a statement prepared by the police. Mr. Mohamed declined to sign the statement.
He was subsequently informed that he was under arrest pursuant to the "Maritime Act".
When Mr. Mohamed questioned the officer as to the specific provision of the Act under which he was being arrested, the officer was unable to identify or cite the relevant provision and after "sucking his teeth" simply reiterated that the arrest was being made under the "Maritime Act".
Mr. Mohamed has remained in the custody of the Guyana Police Force ( Marine Wing of the Ruimveldt Police Station) since that time, upuntil the release of this statement.
Matters of Significant Concern
The following facts are important to note:
โข The vessel was already docked when the servicemen arrived. Mr. Mohamed was not operating the vessel.
โข The vessel was searched following the request by the authorities, and nothing illegal was found.
โข No formal seizure or detention notice has been provided to Mr. Mohamed in relation to the vessel.
โข No specific provision of the Shipping Act has been identified or cited as the legal basis for the detention of the vessel.
โข No specific provision of the Shipping Act has been identified or cited as the legal basis for Mr. Mohamed's arrest.
โข Officers have reportedly been making repeated telephone calls and consulting with others regarding what action should be taken next.
โข 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 circumstances are particularly troubling given that Mr. Mohamed was scheduled to appear before the court this morning.
At this stage, the sequence of events raises serious and legitimate concerns about the selective and potentially politically motivated use of state agencies and resources against the Leader of the Opposition.
We are deeply concerned that what should be a lawful and transparent enforcement process has instead evolved into an apparent attempt to harass, intimidate, and obstruct the Leader of the Opposition through the use of state power.
If the authorities believe that an offence has been committed, they must identify the specific law, the specific provision relied upon, and the factual basis for the action being taken. The people of Guyana are entitled to know that the powers of the State are being exercised lawfully, proportionately, and without political interference.
The continued detention of Mr. Mohamed, particularly in circumstances where no illegal item was reportedly found aboard the vessel and no clear legal basis for his arrest has been identified, demands immediate clarification from the relevant authorities.
This matter will be closely monitored, and all available legal and constitutional avenues will be pursued to ensure that the rights of the Leader of the Opposition are protected and that the actions of the State are subject to the rule of law."
