–President Ali urges residents to not gamble with their future, stay the course with the tried, trusted, tested PPP/C gov’t
PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali has cautioned residents about those political aspirants who are attempting to manipulate voters and undermine national security, just to protect their criminality and selfish interests.
During a public meeting on Saturday in Port Kaituma Region One (Barima-Waini), the President told citizens to commit themselves to development and national security by staying the course with the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.
Braving the rains and standing before a mammoth sea of red, President Ali said: “Be truthful to your conscience. This is not the time to gamble with your future. This is not the time to put the national security of our country at risk. This is not the time to put our country’s sovereignty at risk.”
He reminded citizens that Guyana’s international partners have cautioned the nation about United States (US)- sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed and how he poses a threat to a stable and secure Guyana.
“Don’t let anyone use you to protect their own personal interest, to protect their own criminality. That is what he’s doing, using Guyana once again, because he used us as Reuters said to perpetrate irregularities and criminality, and when he was caught, he now wants to use you once again to defend that criminality,” President Ali said.
President Ali has stated that the choice is clear, meaning, the PPP/C has solidified itself as the only national party that is committed to working for the people and towards a future that is prosperous and stands on a solid foundation.
The Head of State cautioned Guyanese about what is at stake and not to gamble with their future.
Azruddin, along with his father, Nazar Mohamed and their businesses, namely Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World and Team Mohamed’s Racing, on June 11 2024, were sanctioned by Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which oversees sanctions against individuals and entities tied to illicit activities and hostile foreign governments.
In a June 2024 statement, the OFAC stated, “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.”
Recently, US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot said that the US Government, particularly the OFAC views any elevation of Mohamed, the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, as problematic.
Speaking candidly with reporters recently, Ambassador Theriot shared the views of the US Government, particularly the OFAC, concerning Mohamed.
“Yes, we are concerned anytime an OFAC-sanctioned individual has the potential to become a member of government, it’s problematic in multiple ways… We have to be very careful if that person is involved. Let’s say we were on a certain committee; we would have to be very careful in working with that committee. We have to make sure that we didn’t work with him specifically,” Theriot stated.
The Ambassador elaborated that US law strictly limits engagement with individuals under OFAC sanctions, making Mohamed’s potential entry into Parliament, whether in government or opposition, an issue of regulatory and reputational risk for both diplomatic missions and private sector interests.
“He would still be a member of government, so that would be a concern for us,” Theriot said when asked whether Mohamed’s presence in the opposition would still raise alarm.
But the Ambassador did not stop at government engagement.
She raised a more urgent concern, such as the ripple effects on US investment and business confidence in Guyana.
“When you see an OFAC-sanctioned individual become a part of an official within a government, it sends concern through the private sector of the United States. So, you see, US companies are often rethinking their relationships in the country.
“We’ve seen it in Afghanistan and other countries’ companies… they look to de-risk or even cut ties. And we’re in such a beautiful position right now. All these US companies want to come to Guyana. I don’t want that to change,” Theriot said.
While the PPP/C stands on a solid track record, the President urged residents to recommit themselves to walking to every single home and engaging everyone to come out and vote.
He said: “…Let us not count anyone as we’ve lost to anyone. Let us go back and invite them to come to this family. Let us reach out to them and show them love. Let us reach out to them and let them understand the truth. Let us reach out to them with facts. Let us reach out to them with the honour, humility and dignity that is associated to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.”