MARAD has welcomed US Treasury sanctions on an India-based couple accused of fraudulently flying the Guyana flag on foreign vessels, saying the scheme undermines the integrity of national ship registries.

In a statement, MARAD, an agency of the Public Utilities and Aviation Ministry, said it fully supports the action against Suniel Kumar Sharma, his wife Jaspreet Preeti Shahid and their associated entities. It said the two helped manage a criminal network behind maritime fraud against Guyana and several other countries.
The network falsely represented vessels as registered in Guyana through a company called the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana (IMSAG), enabling unauthorised use of the flag, MARAD said.

It said the Government "remains resolute in its efforts to detect, prevent and eliminate the fraudulent use of its national flag". Guyana has repeatedly raised the issue at international and regional maritime forums, pressing for stronger cooperation and more effective measures against fraudulent registration.
Most recently, in July, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar presented a case study titled "Fraudulent Registration: Guyana's Perspective" at the Global Maritime Security and Sanctions Enforcement Symposium in Antigua and Barbuda. The issue was raised again at the recently concluded 56th Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Shipping Association, hosted in Guyana.

MARAD said Guyana will keep working with international partners, maritime administrations and enforcement agencies to safeguard its ship registry and uphold international maritime standards, ensuring the national flag "is not exploited to facilitate criminal activity or circumvent international sanctions".