GRA pursuing tax defaulters not a political issue – Pres Ali

…says PPP/C will not shield tax defaulters from long arm of law

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) pursuing tax defaulters is not a political one. This assertion was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali, coming in the wake of the United States (US) handing over long requested evidence of wrongdoings allegedly committed by the Mohameds, a US sanctioned local business family.
President Ali was at the time addressing at public meeting at La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) on Saturday. Following an introduction made by a member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), President Ali reaffirmed the importance the party places on principles and conduct above reproach.
“My dear comrade made a very important point in his short remarks, when he said that he and others joined this Party because of our policies and principles. He did not join this party with an intention that if he does something wrong or he is part of injustice to others, that he expects this Party to defend and stand up for him,” the President said.

“Because that is not the philosophy of the Party. The philosophy of this Party is to stand up for every Guyanese, in a just manner. So, every individual, every family, will make choices in their life,” President Ali added.
The President noted that while persons have the freedom to make choices, they are not necessarily free from the consequences of those choices. And in the case of tax evasion, President Ali defended GRA and its right to go after such individuals to get them to pay their rightful taxes.
“If your choice is to go contrary to the laws, or if your choice is to avoid your legitimate responsibility of taxes in your country, then the system must deal with you. That is not a political issue! And that cannot be what your party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, stands for,” President Ali also said.
Only a few days ago, it was announced that some nine months after requesting the relevant information and documentation from the US Government, local authorities have now gathered sufficient evidence on the gold smuggling and tax evasion claims against the Mohameds.
This was revealed by Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, S.C., on the sidelines of a joint press conference between President Dr Irfaan Ali and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State House on Thursday.
Back in June 2024, the US sanctioned Guyanese businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, along with their businesses: Mohamed’s Enterprise; its subsidiary, Hadi’s World; and Team Mohamed’s Racing Team, over gold smuggling and public corruption allegations.

According to the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Mohamed’s Enterprise smuggled some 10,000 kilograms (kg) of gold out of Guyana between 2019 and 2023, thus avoiding paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes.
Following the sanctions, the Guyana Government, through various state agencies along with the local commercial banks, had cut ties with the Mohameds.
The Guyana Government had subsequently written to the US Department of Justice (DoJ), requesting additional information to assist local investigations on the allegations of falsification of import and export documents, evasion of taxes, and bribery of customs and Government officials to facilitate illicit gold shipments, and the award of Government contracts.
In addition, the GRA had also requested information, dating back to 2015, from the US’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
AG Nandlall told reporters on Thursday that the local law enforcement agencies, including the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as well as the GRA, have since received a ‘sufficient volume’ of evidence to take action against the businessmen.
In keeping with President Ali’s assertions that enforcing the law for tax evasion is not political, Nandlall had also dismissed any assertions that this new development is political, given Azruddin Mohamed’s apparent political aspirations.