Guyana is actively engaging local and international law enforcement agencies to bring Captain Suniel Kumar to account for operating fraudulent ship registries in more than 14 countries, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar said. He described Kumar as a lead perpetrator of fraudulent registry activities.
Indar made the disclosure while addressing the Second Annual Global Maritime Security and Sanctions Enforcement Symposium in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from 13 to 15 July, convened to strengthen international sanctions enforcement and maritime security cooperation.
Presenting a case study titled “Fraudulent Registries – Guyana’s Perspective,” Indar said the Government is committed to expanding the national fleet by encouraging Guyanese citizens and companies to register vessels under the Guyana flag, but that these efforts continue to face challenges from criminal entities seeking to undermine legitimate ship registration.
He said international cooperation had led to enforcement actions against vessels fraudulently operating under the Guyana flag, including the MT Skipper, intercepted off Venezuela in December 2025, and the MT Majestic X, detained in April 2026.
Addressing more than 100 international participants, Indar reaffirmed that Guyana maintains a closed ship registry and said the Government is prepared to invest the resources needed to preserve the flag’s integrity. He said Guyana, with support from the International Maritime Organization, is strengthening its systems to prevent the registration of vessels suspected of illicit activity.
Indar was accompanied by Captain Stephen Thomas, Director General of the Maritime Administration Department.
The symposium was organised by the US Department of State in collaboration with the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services.
