Dear Editor,
THE very idea of Azruddin Mohamed becoming Leader of the Opposition should send shockwaves through this nation.
This is not just another political development, it will be a direct threat to our democracy, our reputation abroad, and the very integrity of Parliament itself.
The office of Opposition Leader is a constitutional pillar meant to hold government accountable, safeguard the people’s interests, and preserve balance in our democracy. It is not a ceremonial title.

Yet Mohamed’s anticipated rise is tainted by shadows too dark to ignore. His family remains under U.S. sanctions for tax evasion and gold under-declaration, serious charges that carry the stench of corruption.
These are not mere allegations whispered on the street; they are official, international sanctions that should disqualify, not elevate. To hand such a man the second-highest political office in the land would be reckless and dangerous.

Let us be brutally honest: this is not leadership. This is money attempting to purchase legitimacy and influence.
If Mohamed is allowed to ascend, Guyana will be sending a chilling message to the world that corruption is not punished here but rewarded with political power.
At a time when Guyana is emerging as an energy powerhouse and our global profile is rising, such a move would cripple investor confidence, invite international embarrassment, and undermine the credibility of every institution we rely upon to secure our future.
What would this say to our young people, struggling to build honest lives in a country where the rules already seem stacked against them? What would it say to our public servants, our professionals, our entrepreneurs, who try to walk the straight path? It would tell them that integrity does not matter, that the system bends to wealth, and that political power is not earned but bought.

To those Members of Parliament who remain silent: your silence will not protect you. When Guyanese lose faith in Parliament because you allowed questionable influence to triumph, you will bear the blame. History will not forgive complicity. Parliamentarians must ask themselves, are you prepared to drag the institution you serve into disgrace? Are you ready to gamble the nation’s democratic credibility for the ambitions of one man whose record is clouded in scandal?
This is not about party politics. This is about the dignity of our Republic.

Being led by Azruddin Mohamed in Parliament who is under sanctions and suspicion, the credibility of our democratic institutions will collapse from within. We risk entrenching a dangerous precedent where political office becomes a sanctuary for the tainted. Once that line is crossed, the damage will not be easily undone.
Guyana cannot afford this. Opposition leadership must be earned through integrity, vision, and a commitment to the nation, not through questionable riches or backroom deals. Anything less would not just undermine Parliament, but betray the very soul of this nation.
The people are watching. The region is watching. The world is watching. If Parliament allows Mohamed’s rise, Guyana will be judged harshly, not only by outsiders but by future generations who will inherit the consequences of today’s decisions.
The stakes could not be higher. Our democracy cannot be sold.

Sincerely,
Concerned citizen