The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is seeking public assistance to recover its $7M worth navigational aids. The agency expressed outrage at the “continuous stealing and vandalism of its marine Aids to Navigation.”
Workers marking one of the navigation aid.
MARAD noted that in September 2013, two buoys which were placed in the Essequibo River near to Kaow Island, to mark the Rattlesnake Rock were stolen. In April, the Modder Bush buoy was stolen or otherwise removed from its position in the Essequibo River near Leguan, the agency stated.
Also, the lights on two other buoys were stolen from their mooring in the river near to Leguan, Wakenaam and Hogg Islands.
The Aids to Navigation in Guyana are floating buoys and fixed beacons which are strategically positioned in or near the waterways to guide mariners safely. They also mark wrecks and other dangers to navigation.
Even though MARAD has launched an investigation into the disappearance of these Aids to Navigation, the agency is soliciting help from members of the public with any information that would lead to the recovery of its aids to Navigations which in the instances cost a lot of money.