Toshaos Council, IPC condemn intimidation tactics by WIN targeting Amerindian Affairs Minister 

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) on Thursday condemned what it described as an act of intimidation by members of the WIN party, led by Azruddin Mohamed, outside the Amerindian Hostel on Princes Street, Georgetown, on Sunday, December 7. The demonstration, the Council said, appeared to target Amerindian Affairs Minister and ex-officio NTC member Sarah Browne-Shadeek.
According to the NTC, such behaviour toward a sitting Minister, entrusted with the welfare and development of Indigenous peoples, is unacceptable. The Council noted that intimidation undermines the respectful engagement necessary to address national issues and contributes to ethnic tensions, particularly amid a rise in racially charged online attacks. The NTC expressed full solidarity with Minister Browne-Shadeek, praising her composure in the face of provocation.
The Amerindian Hostel, the Council emphasised, serves as a vital facility for Indigenous people accessing healthcare, education, and Government support in the capital. The protest outside its gates, marked by shouting and aggressive behaviour, transformed a place of refuge into a scene of intimidation.
The Council acknowledged ongoing concerns regarding the current hostel and urged the Government to address them as a priority. It also welcomed plans for a new, state-of-the-art Amerindian Hostel, describing it as an important step toward providing Indigenous persons travelling to Georgetown with dignified and reliable accommodation. Discussions about the new facility were recently held during the NTC’s executive meeting in preparation for the proposed 2026 national budget.

Policy issues not personal attacks
In a related statement, the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC) addressed recent public commentary concerning Minister Browne-Shadeek. The IPC stressed the importance of civility, factual accuracy, and fairness in public discourse, noting that healthy debate is vital in a democracy but must remain grounded in respect for individuals and the communities affected by their decisions.
The IPC emphasised that critiques should focus on policy issues and avoid personal attacks or speculative assertions. “Personalising debates detracts from the real issues that require collective attention and thoughtful engagement,” the Commission said. It urged all participants in ongoing discussions to maintain a responsible and measured tone, warning that inflammatory rhetoric risks overshadowing the urgent needs of Indigenous communities.
Both the NTC and IPC reaffirmed their commitment to fostering respectful dialogue and collaboration. The NTC highlighted the importance of working with Government, opposition, civil society, and village leaders to advance the welfare of Amerindian communities, while the IPC called for engagement that contributes to understanding, policy development, and the advancement of Indigenous rights and well-being.
On Sunday, Mohamed turned up with an entourage outside of the Amerindian Hostel. The confrontation occurred as Minister Browne-Shadeek visited the hostel to assess the facility and discuss plans for a new Amerindian hostel. The Minister disclosed that the design for the new facility is being finalised, land has been identified and proposals for funding have been submitted for the 2026 national budget. She has been working with the Central Housing and Planning Authority, whose engineer and architect have collaborated on the design.
Browne-Shadeek also acknowledged the need to continue supporting the existing hostel on Princess Street, Georgetown. The facility accommodates Amerindians travelling to Georgetown for various reasons, including medical treatment, and provides free meals and assistance. She stated that over 1275 persons have used the hostel this year alone.

Not activism but “bullyism”
The Minister said the opposition’s actions were not activism but “bullyism”, noting that the behaviour took place while sick persons were at the hostel. She said she would not be intimidated and emphasised that proper leadership does not involve confrontational behaviour or using Indigenous people as pawns for political agendas. WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, are currently facing extradition proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in relation to fraud and money laundering indictments linked to gold smuggling in the United States (US).
The indictment follows sanctions imposed over a year ago by the US Government on the Mohameds and their businesses in relation to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) noting that between 2019 and 2023. Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kilograms of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana. The other charge has to do with Azruddin Mohamed purchasing and importing a Lamborghini sports car to Guyana in 2020. The indictment alleges he directed someone to purchase the car for US$680,000, then falsify the invoice to state a value of US$75,300 to understate import taxes. If convicted, most charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to US$250,000, while the money laundering charge carries a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered property.