The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has bought over the contentious consignment of Bunker C fuel sealed off in 35,000 barrels on the BK International ship, New Horizon, docked midstream at the mouth of the Demerara River.
The fuel was originally earmarked for a Dominican Republic firm, but the ship returned here with its cargo following a crew mutiny over a health problem in February this year.
Stabroek News was told on Wednesday that BK Interna-tional and the Dominican Republic firm, Rio Haina, have since settled the issue and as such the Guyanese firm was given the go ahead to sell the fuel. Stabroek News was told also that the foreign company has since paid its debts to BK International which amounted to US$402,000.
Chief Executive Officer of GEA, Joseph O’Lall confirmed to Stabroek News that the fuel was purchased by the GEA for the Guyana Power and Light. O’Lall said that the price was right and the fuel was in good order. He however said that the fuel is yet to be offloaded and this according to reports would be costly to BK International. “We were approached to purchase the fuel and after we were satisfied that the matter was fully resolved internationally we bought the fuel,” O’Lall said.
He could not say what the cost of the fuel was but assured that it was sold at the international price.
The company had reported that some members of the crew were stricken with chicken pox and because they were not getting medication they became angry and threatened to kill the captain, forcing him to bring them back home. The controversy came to light when the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued an advisory in late February alleging that the ship had stolen the cargo of fuel.
Interpol said in its advisory that the New Horizon was heading to Guyana with the intention of stealing the huge consignment of Bunker C fuel, which was destined for a company in the Dominican Republic. According to Interpol, the Guyanese vessel was contracted to ship a consignment of fuel oil worth US$1 million from Barranquilla, Colombia to Rio Haina in the Dominican Republic. Interpol said the vessel, which was to have arrived in the Dominican Republic on February 6, had not reached its destination nor had the company which contracted it been in receipt of any correspondence from the owners of the vessel regarding its whereabouts and the status of the cargo. As such Interpol advised port authorities not to allow the vessel to dock and discharge the cargo. The agency had also issued an advisory for the arrest of the vessel’s captain, owner and the operations manager of the company.
Stabroek News was told that the vessel had returned to Guyana since February 12 and was docked at the mouth of the Demerara since that time. Following the Interpol advisory, management of BK International had demanded that the agency withdraw the advisory and apologize but it is not clear whether this was done.
BK International also held discussions with the Domini-can Republic firm following the issuing of the advisory.
