–President Ali emphasises; affirms he is ‘not compromised’ nor will he ever be

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has completely shut down the rumour mills attempting to discredit him, and he made it clear that he has not been compromised.
His comment is in response to speculations and questions surrounding his perceived association with the recently US-sanctioned Mohameds.
During a press conference at State House on Thursday, the President said that his connection with the family stems from his time spent at St. Stanislaus College, his alma mater.
He also highlighted that this is not anything uncommon, as the family is very popular, and they are associated with many persons, even from the Opposition camp.
However, this link does not reduce judgment, and as President he stands committed to the Rule of Law.

Dr. Ali said: “I said the Rule of Law is the Rule of Law, and the Rule of Law must apply equally for every citizen. No one is above the law.”
He addressed the questions surrounding the use of a vehicle in 2020. Owing to security reasons, the President said that the vehicle at reference was used during the 2020 General and Regional Elections campaign trail.
However, after being sworn in on August 2, 2020 as President, the vehicle has not been used since.
“The vehicle that I used was during the election campaign, after my security advised me that I needed a safe vehicle because of the distance I was traversing, and in their assessment the threat I was exposed to,” he clarified.
The President firmly said that this was no secret.

“I didn’t hide it; I didn’t drive in a tunnel… I did not use that vehicle after assuming office,” he said, adding:
“The day I was sworn in, I was dropped home, and the vehicle provided by the Office of the President was used from the next day.”
While finally shutting down the rumour mill, the Head of State said: “I am not compromised, and I would not be compromised in any way, shape or form.”
The United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned father and son, Nazar Mohamed, and Azruddin Mohamed, respectively, their company, Mohamed’s Enterprise, and Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Labour (MoL), Mae Thomas, for their alleged roles in public corruption.

Within the statement, the OFAC highlighted that gold is one of Guyana’s main exports, but it remains a highly fractured industry with small-scale gold-mining operations in Guyana occupying a majority share of the country’s gold production.
“These small, family-owned businesses have informal relationships with larger purchasers and traders like Mohamed’s Enterprise. Once mined, Guyanese gold is sold and traded throughout international markets, including the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union,” the OFAC stated.

The statement further outlined that Nazar founded Mohamed’s Enterprise in Guyana before expanding to the United States as a moneychanger and transitioned into gold trading, growing Mohamed’s Enterprise into one of Guyana’s largest gold exporters.
In time, the son, Azruddin ultimately took over Mohamed’s Enterprise, which also now does business as “Confidential Cambio.”
The statement then read: “Azruddin and Mohamed’s Enterprise evaded Guyana’s tax on gold exports and defrauded the Guyanese government of tax revenues by under-declaring their gold exports to Guyanese authorities. Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilogrammes of gold from import-and-export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.”
The President further disclosed that Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed has since resigned as a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor.