—Agriculture Minister says his son’s mining properties were lawfully acquired and challenges Azruddin Mohamed to submit any evidence of wrongdoing to the relevant authorities

MINISTER of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has dismissed allegations made by fugitive offender Azruddin Mohamed regarding his son’s business dealings, describing the claims as “false, misleading and unsupported by credible evidence.”
In a statement on Saturday, Mustapha said Mohamed has continued to make “wild and unsubstantiated allegations” while serious allegations concerning his own conduct remain under public scrutiny.
The minister said he had addressed the matter publicly last week, but instead of responding to the issues he raised or providing evidence to support the claims, Mohamed had repeated the same allegations through social media and other public platforms.
According to Mustapha, the attacks on his son began after the latter chose to pursue his own independent business path.
“Since then, he has been subjected to repeated public allegations and attempts to damage both his reputation and his business. Despite these attacks, he has remained focused on conducting his affairs lawfully, professionally and independently,” the minister stated.
Mustapha maintained that his son’s business affairs are entirely separate from his own and that, like every Guyanese citizen, he has the right to engage in lawful business activities without harassment, intimidation or politically motivated attacks.
Addressing allegations surrounding mining operations, the minister said all of his son’s mining properties were acquired through the lawful procedures established by the relevant authorities and are operated within the legal framework governing the sector.
He noted that every Guyanese has the right to apply for mining properties once they comply with the law, pay the required fees and make the necessary investments, adding that his children have been involved in medium-scale mining for several years in accordance with the country’s laws and regulations.
Mustapha also contended that it is a matter of public record that Mohamed and members of his family collectively hold mining rights over properties exceeding the combined holdings of all of his children, yet allegations continue to focus solely on his family.
He further rejected claims that mining properties linked to his children are being leased to foreign companies, describing the allegation as false.
“Significantly, despite making such a serious accusation, he has failed to identify a single foreign company or produce any evidence to support that claim,” Mustapha said.
The minister urged Mohamed, if he believes any law has been broken, to submit whatever evidence he claims to possess to the relevant authorities for investigation rather than making repeated allegations through social media or political platforms.
“Public accusations do not constitute proof, nor should they be used to convict individuals in the court of public opinion,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, Mustapha said he has confidence in Guyana’s institutions and will not be distracted from his responsibilities by attacks against him or his family.
“The Guyanese people deserve better than a relentless stream of allegations intended to inflame public opinion and distract from the issues that truly matter. They deserve facts, not speculation; evidence, not rhetoric; and responsible public discourse grounded in truth and due process,” Mustapha said.
He also called on the public to reject misinformation, insist on facts and allow the relevant authorities to carry out their duties independently.
“The truth is established through evidence, due process and the rule of law, not through repeated public accusations,” the minister stated.