ERC probing racial remarks allegedly made by Nazar Mohamed

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has launched an investigation into alleged racial remarks made by United States-indicated businessman Nazar Mohamed.
In a statement on Friday, the ERC said its Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), on January 8, took note of a video being circulated on social media “with concerning racial remarks allegedly made by Mr Nazar Mohamed.”
The ERC is a constitutional body established to promote harmony and good relations and eliminate ethnic discrimination by investigating complaints, fostering understanding, and encouraging tolerance among Guyana’s diverse racial and ethnic groups.

According to the Commission in Friday’s missive, the MMU has captured and recorded the statements in question as part of its continuous monitoring mandate.
“The Commission reiterates that any remarks which promote ethnic hostility, prejudice, or discrimination fall within the purview of the constitutional mandate of the ERC. In keeping with established protocols honouring due process and fairness, the matter is currently engaging the attention of the ERC’s Investigative Unit,” the ERC stated.
Pledging to keep the public updated as investigations continue, the ERC said it remains committed to fostering harmony, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence among all ethnic groups within Guyana.
A leaked audio recording has been making rounds on social media in which someone alleged to be the elder Mohamed can be heard making racist remarks to an individual of Afro-Guyanese descent, who is believed to be one of his workers.
The recording had sparked outrage on social media, but the businessman has denied that it is his voice. He told reporters at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday that he is being set up.
Nazar Mohamed and his son, businessman-turned-politician Azruddin Mohamed, are currently facing an 11-count indictment in the Southern District of Florida for wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering in connection with alleged financial crimes involving gold exports.
The US has since made an extradition request to the Guyana Government to have the father-and-son duo face the charges in Florida.
The businessmen had moved to the High Court to block the extradition proceedings, but this application was rejected by Chief Justice Navindra Singh on Monday, thus paving the way for the extradition hearing to get underway.
Those proceedings commenced on Tuesday with another hearing held on Thursday, during which Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman adjourned the matter until February 5 to give the defence team time to review new evidence – a statement from the Foreign Affairs Minister attesting to the existence of an extradition arrangement between Guyana and the US – that was admitted into the case.
The Magistrate has since cautioned the prosecution that it would not be allowed to make any additional disclosures during the proceedings.
The indictment follows sanctions imposed over a year ago by the US Government on the Mohameds and their businesses for gold smuggling and tax evasion.
After being sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Azruddin launched his bid as a presidential candidate for the September 2025 General and Regional Elections in Guyana, and his party – We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) – went on to win 16 seats in the National Assembly to become the main parliamentary opposition.