Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, has pushed back against the claims by newly-elected Opposition Leader, U.S.-indicted Azruddin Mohamed, stating that he is demanding privileges he is not legally entitled to.

Mohamed, after one week after assuming office, told Kaieteur News that he has not been provided with official state security or a government vehicle, benefits guaranteed under law, which he says signals continued political discrimination against him.

The Minister clarified that former presidents, by law, under the former President’s Benefits Act, are entitled to security and vehicles and such privileges are not granted to the leader of the opposition.

The minister noted that former president Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo previously received such support while serving as Opposition Leader strictly because of his status as a former head of state.

“Mr. Azruddin is not a former president and therefore is not entitled to the things that a former president would be entitled to,” she said, noting that the Act, which covers the leader of the Opposition benefits, includes the fact that he will receive the same as a minister.

“So Mr. Mohamed will receive, and has received, the salary benefits, allowances and entitlements of ministers, which includes security at his home, and so that is paid for by Parliament,” she said.

Teixeira further stated that Mohamed is not entitled to personal security. However, there is security at the office of the leader of the opposition whenever he designates the office and based on the rental threshold that has been set by Parliament.

“So this issue that he’s entitled to these benefits that he sees former presidents being able to access do not apply to the leader of the opposition, and therefore do not apply to Mr. Mohamed,” she said.

Minister Teixeira also rejected Mohamed’s claims regarding duty-free concessions and transportation, stating that he receives no special dispensation beyond what is granted to all members of Parliament.

“As all 71 parliamentarians in the house are entitled to duty free concession. So he doesn’t have any special dispensation to do with duty-free, he has a duty free concession based on being a parliamentarian; he has no entitlement to a vehicle assigned to him, no entitlement to close men. If he wishes to have that, he can hire them himself. But that is not part of the day benefits of the ministers of government and allowances, and therefore it’s not his entitlement,” she said.

Further, the Minister highlighted Mohamed’s contradiction, where he said during the campaign trail he said he would refuse a salary if elected.

“Mr. Mohamed is receiving his salary, and he has designated a particular member of this party to collect his salary and cash. Because, of course, you know, Mr. Mohamed has no bank account nor several members in the House. So I just wanted to clarify those points that they are misinforming the public. And clearly, Mr. Mohamed seems to have a vision of himself, which is much bigger than what he’s entitled to by law. So he needs to be familiar with the laws of Guyana, and that is the leader of opposition’s benefits,” Minister Teixeira said.