–say accountability starts with individual responsibility, acknowledge President Ali’s declaration of possessions

THERE have been mounting calls for United States-indicted businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who is also Leader of the Opposition, to subject his own assets and sources of wealth to the same level of public scrutiny as government officials.
One individual, Sean Graham, took to Facebook to call for Mohamed to step down as Opposition Leader, reminding him of his pending sanctions and ongoing legal case.
Meanwhile, Rosemary Mendonca called out the sanctioned businessman for not publicly declaring his assets, especially given his campaign on “accountability.”
Further, Nathan Whtye raised concerns that Mohamed might secretly have several companies across the country. Persons have also informed Mohamed that accountability starts with individual responsibility.
These renewed calls for the Opposition Leader to come clean about his assets follow his actions targetting government ministers and, most recently, President, Dr Irfaan Ali.
Without any evidence of illegality, Mohamed sought to besmirch the President over farming investments made before his presidency.
On Sunday, President, Dr Irfaan Ali underscored his commitment to practising what he preaches about food security and agriculture, as he fielded questions about recent allegations made by Mohamed about a farm he owns on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
Earlier on Sunday, President Ali had said he would not succumb to blackmail from the Mohamed family.
According to reports, prior to these public allegations regarding his farm, President Ali had received several communications over a period of time concerning the release of information about him if “amends were not made.”
President Ali had also disclosed that he was in possession of text messages from businessman Nazar Mohamed— the father of Azruddin–who is also sanctioned by the United States.
According to Dr Ali, Nazar sent messages as early as last week indicating that recordings would be released if amends were not made with him and his son.
The President’s comments came after Azruddin published a 24-minute video, in which he made several allegations against the Head of State.
According to information that has since been made public, the farm was acquired long before President Ali assumed office. The acquisition of the property predates Dr Ali’s presidency and can be independently verified through banking records and other official documentation.
Additionally, President Ali has made the appropriate declarations to the Integrity Commission. The acquisition of his assets and the source of the funds used to acquire them are capable of verification through the relevant financial and regulatory records.
Further reports state that the farm has never received any special benefits, preferential treatment, or assistance from the Government of Guyana, either before or after President Ali assumed office. At no point have state funds, public resources, or government assets been used in relation to this investment.
One citizen, Julian Kattow, joined other voices in defence of President Ali’s transparency and accountability.
In response to Mohamed’s claims, the woman said, “So why you all jealous of what [President Ali] doing, he is working like any other Guyanese.”
In remarks shared by ‘Starting Point,’ the President emphasised that his hands-on involvement in agriculture was always part of a broader national push to transform food production and improve resilience across the region.
The Mohameds have been at the helm of controversy over several allegations of criminality.
In October last year, a federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment charging the father and son with participating in a multi-year scheme to evade millions of dollars in taxes and royalties owed to the Government of Guyana through fraudulent gold export practices and related money-laundering activities.
According to court documents, Nazar, 72, and Azruddin, 38, were owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise, a gold wholesaler and exporter in Guyana that sold gold to buyers in Miami and Dubai.
From about 2017 through at least 2024, the pair allegedly enriched themselves and defrauded the Government of Guyana by concealing the true quantity and value of gold exported by their company.
The indictment alleges that Mohamed’s Enterprise paid taxes and royalties on one shipment of gold to obtain official government seals, then reused those same seals on subsequent shipments to avoid paying additional taxes and royalties.
Prosecutors further allege that empty boxes bearing Guyanese government seals were shipped from Dubai through Miami to Guyana and that bribes were paid to customs and other officials to facilitate the scheme.
In total, the pair allegedly exported at least 10,000 kilogrammes of gold through Miami, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately US$50 million to the Government of Guyana.
Nazar is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and mail fraud.
Azruddin is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. The indictment also alleges that Azruddin engaged in a separate scheme to evade more than US$1 million in Guyanese taxes in connection with the shipment of a Lamborghini from Miami to Guyana.