“That’s a real concern” – US Ambassador warns of implications if sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed enters Parliament

The United States of America will view the election of sanctioned Guyanese businessman Azruddin Mohamed to Parliament with serious concern, according to US Ambassador Nicole Theriot.
She cautioned that such a development could have implications for both Government-to-Government relations and private sector engagement between the two countries.

“When you see an OFAC-sanctioned individual become [an official] within a Government, it sends concern through the private sector of the United States. So, you see US companies often rethinking their relationships in the country,” she told reporters on Wednesday on the side-lines of the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
“All these US companies want to come to Guyana, and Guyana is welcoming… and I don’t want that to change if he were to become a member of the Government. So, that’s a real concern that I have,” she added.
The diplomat noted that the same concerns apply if Mohamed becomes a parliamentarian in the Opposition.
“It’s problematic in multiple ways… We have to be very careful if that person is involved; let’s say he were on a certain committee, we would have to be very careful in working with that committee. We have to ensure that we didn’t work with him specifically,” the ambassador added.
In 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it sanctioned Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, as well as several of their companies.
The sanctions are related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms (kg) of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
Azruddin Mohamed has since launched a political party, called We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), and he is running as the presidential candidate. His party has been approved by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to contest the elections on September 1.
United States Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has already cautioned that “We remain deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana. As a strategic ally of the United States, Guyana deserves leaders who respect democratic values. Individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise this vital relationship.”
United States Congressman Carlos Gimenez had also raised concerns over what he describes as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through a controversial figure. Gimenez stated: “In the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC.”
President Irfaan Ali had previously explained that the US-sanctioned businessman is a risk and a threat to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty, and diplomacy.
At least one local bank has cancelled the personal accounts of individuals on the candidates lists of WIN.
Meanwhile, in addition to the US sanctions, the businessman is also charged locally with tax evasion for amounts totalling some $900 million. In addition to the US sanctions, the businessman is also charged locally with tax evasion for amounts totalling some $900 million.