Dear Editor,
I refer to several articles about the Mohameds by a Reuters special report, unnamed US officials, and well-seasoned with regurgitated accusations, anecdotes, and innuendoes.
It seems very strange that after a thorough investigation into Mr Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and his companies, by reputable corporations, mostly Americans: Exxon, Halliburton, Champion X, Stena Drilling, Peterson Energy Logistics, Aramco and Baker Hughes, not a shred of evidence has been uncovered to implicate Mr Mohamed & companies in drug dealing, money laundering or gold smuggling. Further, the US corporations have all continued to do business with Mr Mohamed and their business relationships have been growing exponentially. According to the Governments of Guyana and the United States of America, they are all in good standing.
A separate issue that is being conflated is whether Mr Mohamed is eligible for a non-immigrant US visa. As a lawyer who practices Immigration and Naturalisation Law in the United States, it’s absolutely clear that the issuance of such a visa is entirely at the discretion of a US Consular Officer. Nothing nefarious can be inferred from a denial of a non-immigrant visa application other than the adjudicating Consular Officer chose not to exercise his/her favourable discretion at the moment. It was unethical of those advising Mr Mohamed to push him to retain a PR firm in Washington DC to lobby the US State Department for a remedy.
Editor, it’s important for your readers to know and for me to declare whether I have either a professional or friendly relationship with Mr Mohamed. I have known “Shell” for many years even before he became wealthy and well-known. He was from a poor family from the Essequibo Coast. He came to Georgetown, like many others from the Essequibo Coast and the Essequibo Islands in the 1980s. They all hawked pants-length and socks on the sidewalks on Lower Water St, Georgetown.
It’s without any question that the American Govt is seeking to get its hands on Mr Mohamed. However, it’s not for drug dealing, money laundering or gold smuggling. And his US visa applications were not denied because of complicity in those illegal activities. There are allegations of alien smuggling against Shell. However, no formal charges have been filed naming him in any Federal Court in the US and therefore no extradition order has been sought by any US Attorney for his extradition. If there was a mustard seed of evidence that Mr Mohamed and his companies were engaged in drug dealing, money laundering and gold smuggling, the US Dept of Justice would have moved to charge and have him extradited.
On the other hand, Mr Nazar Mohamed is “guilty” of association with the ruling Govt and has established long-standing business relationships with many wealthy business owners and corporations in Guyana. Those relationships, Editor, once mined, gifts a treasure trove of intelligence to any foreign Govt seeking to influence policymakers in this sovereign nation.
I have no professional relationship with Mr Mohamed, whom I still consider a friend. This letter, Editor, was written because I still respect him for his honesty, humility and unquestionable integrity.
In conclusion, I challenge these unnamed US officials. If your Justice Dept has an iota of evidence that this gentleman and his companies are engaged in drug dealing, money laundering and gold smuggling, then present it before a grand jury in the Southern District of New York and charge him with a crime.
Sincerely,
Fuad Rahaman
