By Gtimes
Guyana is a free country, one that is constantly working to strengthen democracy. There are always threats to the fledgling democratic movement in Guyana. In 2020, the then-incumbent government, led by the then president, David Granger, and by the PNC, tried desperately to derail Guyana鈥檚 democracy by the most transparent, clumsy effort to thief Elections 2020 after it became apparent that they had lost the elections.
Presently, as Elections 2025 get nearer and nearer, scheduled for September 1, 24 political parties have signalled their intentions to contest. Not all of them will be able to field slates of candidates. Their only option will be coming together with the hope that they will meet the bare minimum for eligibility to participate. ANUG, for example, with perhaps only two people, has meekly agreed to be absorbed into the party owned by Azruddin Mohamed. The Mohamed party is blatantly open in buying candidates to fill their lists and in getting backers for the lists. One rich man is openly using his money to corrupt the process to buy candidates and votes.
One of the oldest threats against democracy is the use of lies and misinformation. Azruddin Mohamed is shameless in how he utilises the weapon of lies and misinformation. In fact, not only does he lie constantly, but he has used his money to create a social media network to spread lies and misinformation. Today, in Guyana and around the world, while guns and criminals continue to be a major threat against democracy, lies and misinformation are proving to be every bit an equal threat to democracy.
Last year, America sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed for gold smuggling and for other criminal activities. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, an American government department, on June 11, 2024, announced the imposition of sanctions against the Mohamed family, specifically targeting Azruddin Mohamed, and businesses, namely Mohamed鈥檚 Enterprise, Hadi鈥檚 World and Team Mohamed鈥檚 Racing. OFAC was joined by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York, on June 12th, which also announced the sanctions. The sanctions were pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption around the world.
These sanctions were never initiated by any investigation or request from the Government of Guyana. President Irfaan Ali, VP Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP government at no time were involved in any action that led to the American sanctions.
A US congressman recently asserted that the US is looking closely at Azruddin Mohamed as a Maduro mole. On June 30, in a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gimenez stated: 鈥淚n the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela鈥檚 attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC.鈥
President Irfaan Ali, VP Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP government have no control over any action taken by any congressman, senator or any other American government official.
Following the OFAC sanctions in June 2024, in a decisive move, all banks in Guyana closed accounts they had with the Mohamed family and their businesses. The banks decided to close the accounts of the Mohameds to de-risk themselves. This process often involves banks and other financial entities severing ties with customers to avoid legal, financial, or reputational damage. The Mohameds, therefore, now have no active accounts with any of the country鈥檚 commercial banks. At this time, the Mohameds are the only gold dealers that have had their accounts completely closed by commercial banks.
The Mohameds were part of a consortium that established a shore-based business to work for EXXON. After the sanctions, the consortium was under threat of being blacklisted by the American government. The blacklisting threat was never a threat from the Government of Guyana. This was purely an American government-driven action. The Mohameds were forced to sell off their part of the business.
Outside of the banks in Guyana, other Guyanese businesses, cognisant that OFAC has the power to extend sanctions to business associates and people who conduct business with the Mohameds, decided to also stay clear of the Mohameds. These businesses include airlines operating in Guyana. These are independent actions, as these businesses ensure they stay clear of potential US government sanctions. The Guyana government has nothing to do with actions taken by businesses to protect their self-interest.
In the most selfish act, Mohamed decided to run for office to take cover. He presents himself as a victim of political harassment, claiming that President Irfaan Ali, VP Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP have targeted him because he is running to be president. He goes around in small meetings and tells people that he was sanctioned by President Ali, VP Jagdeo, and the PPP government, a total barefaced lie. In the meanwhile, he exposes innocent people to severe actions by the US government.
He further asserts that the PPP government has instructed private businesses to stop conducting business with him and his family. For example, he alleges that the PPP government has instructed the airlines operating in Guyana, out of Ogle, not to permit him to travel on their planes. This is an outright lie. Instead of outlining policies and what he will do for Guyana, he spends all his time accusing the government of employing foreign operatives to lobby the US government for actions against him.
The charges made against him by the US government do not include the recently exposed acts of cheating the GRA and Guyana of more than a billion dollars in taxes for vehicles he imported with ridiculous undervalued prices. He claimed the president approved his action. The president never approved of him lying to the GRA.
Mohamed is insulting the intelligence of the Guyanese people. Having adopted the strategy of lies and misrepresentation as his election platform, he cannot expect a free pass. His opponents will expose him. The truth is plain to see, and he will pay a hefty price when he is overwhelmingly rejected by the people.