Pres Ali warns US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed poses threat to Guyana’s financial system, territorial integrity

…says Govt’s lobbying to keep partners informed of Venezuela’s threats

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday issued a forceful public statement that tore into controversial United States (US)-sanctioned businessman turned-political aspirant Azruddin Mohamed, declaring him a “risk” to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty and regional diplomacy.

The Head of State warned that the Guyanese businessman, who has been sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) links to alleged gold smuggling, drug trafficking, as Venezuela threaten the very institutions that protect Guyana’s borders and economy.
“He (Azruddin Mohamed) is a risk to our financial system. I would ask the media and all his handlers to ask the commercial banks why they have not sanctioned him. Why is he a risk to our country? Ask the insurance companies why they cannot conduct financial transactions with him”.
“He is also a threat to our diplomacy and our diplomacy is linked to the defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. In those sanctions, the US Government has made it very clear that the US Government or agencies or businesses cannot conduct business with him,” he said.
The President was at the time speaking in response to a media report that the Guyana Government hired a lobbyist firm, Continental Strategy LLC, to target the US-sanctioned businessman, who was called a “Maduro-puppet” by US congressman, Carlos Gimenez on Monday
President Ali made it clear that the Government’s hiring of the firm is to do diplomatic work to guarantee that Guyana’s allies are well-informed on any threats posed to the country.
In fact, he reminded that Mohamed has been sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s OFAC for alleged gold smuggling and drug trafficking.
Citing Guyana’s reliance on allies like the US for defence against Venezuela’s territorial claims, the President said Mohamed’s sanctions threaten those critical diplomatic relationships.
With this in mind, the Guyanese Leader revealed that the Government has been engaged in diplomatic work to guarantee that Guyana’s allies are well-informed on any threats posed by neighbouring Venezuela.
On Monday, the US Congressman Carlos Gimenez raised concerns over what he describes as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed.
“Is our security linked to our relationship with key allies like the US in defence of our border? Yes, it is. This does not require rocket science. These are the facts. Our national security and the greatest threat are that of Venezuela. Is Azruddin Mohamed a threat to the defence of this border against Venezuela? Yes, because our key ally has identified him to the extent that he is sanctioned by them”.
“Let us not be naive about this. This is not about the Government of Guyana. This is about our security, architecture and infrastructure…and let me be very clear, these investigations were there long before he announced his political ambition or aspirations. These things did not come about yesterday,” Ali posited.
Further, President Ali warned against the attempt by Mohamed and his affiliates to frame the US sanctions and scrutiny as political victimisation, stating bluntly that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) is not threatened by Mohamed, labeling him a “political lightweight.”
“Azruddin Mohamed is absolutely no threat to the People’s Progressive Party electoral victory. In his imaginative head, he may believe our support is strong, intact and we don’t need to move away from facts and what is there. So don’t use your current situation that you brought upon yourself because of your action to paint a picture of political victimisation. The world and every right-thinking Guyanese know that this is a total lie and far from the truth,” the Head of State added.