Prosecuting Mohamed during campaign would look like political persecution-Jagdeo
August 12, 2025
Vice-President and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, says that the administration has been cautious about pursuing legal action against businessman and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Presidential Candidate, Azruddin Mohamed, because doing so during an election, “would make it look like you’re going after your opponent.”
This, even as he repeatedly warned that the United States has compiled evidence against Mohamed that could imperil Guyana if the businessman were to win public office.
Jagdeo was at the time a guest on the Starting Point Online Podcast and used the platform to set out a twofold rationale for his position. He first charged that Mohamed lacks the experience and qualifications to govern.
“I don’t like speaking about people’s academic qualifications. But when you go on social media… and all of the others saying that Azruddin Mohammed finished university… He didn’t even finish his CXC, which is the fact…no track record of achievement, no plan for the future, no experience,” and would be unable to represent Guyana on the world stage.
“How would he articulate a policy, formulate a policy? How would he represent us globally? How would he keep us safe from Venezuela? So that’s a big risk,” he said, referencing the ongoing boundary and territorial issue at hand.
The Vice President, additionally, pointed to his sanctioning by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which he reminded relates to “gold smuggling, corruption,” and other serious offences, presents an unacceptable national risk.
“These sanctions came under those reserved for people who do trafficking, money laundering, gold smuggling, corruption, et cetera,” Jagdeo said as he urged voters to consider the international consequences of electing a person under such restrictions.
“A known gold smuggler who has now owed the treasury some $11 billion. $11 billion….the US has a ton of evidence. They have shared that evidence with us.”
He warned that Mohamed’s sanctioning, which, Jagdeo said, bars dealings with US persons and carries secondary risks for foreign financial institutions, has already prompted private sector actors to distance themselves and could, if he were elected, trigger broader financial isolation.
“Without being integrated in the global financial system, the bank might as well shut its doors. End business.”
International reporting has linked the Mohamed family and associated enterprises to allegations beyond gold smuggling, including probes into money laundering and other transnational criminality. Reuters and the US Treasury’s announcement have set out the grounds for the OFAC action, which the Mohamed camp has publicly disputed.
Jagdeo also cited a string of incidents and allegations published in the local press, including claims of violence, intimidation, and improper customs declarations, to reinforce his argument that Mohamed’s candidacy carries risks beyond mere scandal.
“This guy tortured people… Now I’ve seen it surfaced about shooting a child. And he wouldn’t answer that,” Jagdeo said, adding that the combination of alleged criminality and weak credentials makes Mohamed incapable of running the country.
