US Ambassador’s comments on Azruddin Mohamed candidacy instructive
Dear Editor,
I’m writing as a Guyanese who cares deeply about our country’s future.
Ambassador Nicole Theriot’s remarks in Guyana today shouldn’t be dismissed, they are a wake-up call to all of us. She warned in no uncertain term, that the candidacy of Mr Azruddin Mohamed, a businessman recently sanctioned by OFAC, threatens our ties with both the US Government and American companies.
She said that anytime a US-sanctioned person steps into Government, “it is concerning for us and problematic in multiple ways”.
Let that sink in. This isn’t political spin, it’s a blunt message. Our international relationships may suffer unless we deal with this issue clearly and urgently.
She added that if Mohamed wins a seat even in a committee, the US would have to be very careful. Support for initiatives could dry up, and direct collaboration could disappear. She also addressed what many of us fear: American investors pulling out.
“All these US companies want to come to Guyana, I don’t want that to change,” she said, warning they might “de-risk or cut ties” if someone under sanction gains political influence. That’s not just diplomatic chatter it’s a risk to our economy and livelihoods.
The reason? OFAC sanctions were issued against Mohamed and his father on June 11, 2024, for alleged large-scale tax evasion and corruption involving over $50 million in gold exports. Immediately after that, Guyanese banks moved fast – all commercial banks cut ties with the Mohameds to protect themselves.
It’s a textbook example of how a sanctioned individual triggers a compliance shutdown.
Vice Bharrat Jagdeo later reaffirmed the Government’s stance: no individual is worth risking the future of all Guyanese. He made it clear that engaging with OFAC sanctioned persons puts our entire financial system at risk. And rightly so.
From where I stand, this isn’t about targeting one person. It’s about protecting a fragile trust we’ve spent years earning.
In 2014, Guyana was grey-listed by the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) for lapses in anti-money laundering laws. It took snap elections in 2015 and urgent reform to avoid full blacklisting, a scenario that could have strangled our ability to trade and grow.
Electing a sanctioned figure now could trigger all that damage again in different ways. It sends a message that compliance doesn’t matter. It reminds investors that our legal frameworks are weaker than portrayed. These are not far-fetched hypotheticals, they are documented risks. Ambassador Theriot also shared that US Embassy officials will watch the upcoming elections closely as observers. Her presence means she’s monitoring whether Guyana remains committed to transparency and rule of law.
This is a crossroads. We can’t let short-term popularity choices undermine our long-term standing. We need leadership that reinforces anti-corruption, respects global standards, and keeps doors open both diplomatically and economically.
As a Guyanese, I refuse to see our nation stumble because we didn’t take compliance seriously. If we tolerate the candidacy of an OFAC sanctioned person, we risk not just a tinge of embarrassment but a genuine crisis.
Let’s this moment lead us forward not backward.
