(Demerara Waves) – Even as Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Tuesday morning remained in police custody, evidence surfaced to dispute his claim that his go-fast boat was damaged while in marine police possession.
Mr Mohamed was arrested by police after he failed to provide the registration, fitness and captain’s licence after marine police and coast guard pulled up alongside his vessel at his dock on Friendship, East Bank Demerara.
Earlier Tuesday at 6:54 AM, Mr Mohamed posted pictures on his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page alleging that his boat was damaged after a mere four hours in police detention. “Photos can clearly show the deliberate act by this administration to damage Mohamed’s property. The boat was purposely left on the dock to damage the bottom or hull of the boat, with the engine foot resting on the dock too,” he said.
That allegation contrasts with a Facebook post at 5:36 AM Tuesday by Akim Hercules which shows what appears to be the identical damage to the go-fast boat while on a river in an interior location. Mr Mohamed and five other parliamentarians of the main opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party were aboard the vessel. “This situation truly broke my heart. You came to Region One to do humanitarian work—to assist the relatives, families, and survivors who were affected by the tragic MV Barima disaster. This has nothing to do with politics,” Mr Hercules said.
The WIN parliamentary team on Tuesday travelled to Port Kaituma and Mabaruma where they met with survivors and relatives of those who perished in the July 19 sinking of the MV Barima ferry while it was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
