Is the Targeting of the Mohameds by the US and Guyana Governments Fair?

Dear Editor,

The fairness of American sanction, indictment, and extradition of the Mohamed‘s is a subject of significant debate as most Guyanese believe such actions violate human rights and due process of an accused. And they are not the only Guyanese accused of or under investigation for allegedly violating financial laws or committing the same crimes. There are several officials exploiting their positions in various sectors including gold mining, agriculture, housing, infrastructure, and petroleum for their own benefit. 

Several Ministers and other officials are allegedly involved in massive corruption. Also, it is widely known that law enforcement officers and government officials provided a protective shield to several known gold and diamond smugglers to operate in Guyana and directed officers to facilitate their export, taking ‘fees’ in exchange for services. Yet the Mohamed’s are the only ones targeted by the PPP government for prosecution and indicted in USA.

The Mohamed’s are not the only Guyanese business people to allegedly violate the monetary laws (Magnitsky, OFAC, etc.) of USA and of Guyana. Several business people with ties to this government have violated American and Guyanese laws and have been involved in money laundering, gold smuggling, and corruption. Guyanese politicians have also violated the same laws. In fact in the Su video, a leading politician was accused of corruption, taking bribes. 

And the PS, Mae Toussaint, of the Home Affairs Ministry was co-sanctioned by USA. Yet only the Mohamed’s were indicted in USA and facing extradition for trial. Why not the others who are more crooked than garbed wire and who have been involved in significant corruption? Why isn’t the VP moving with the same zeal to investigate and prosecute Ministers and other officials accused of corruption?

It is no secret that the Mohamed’s were attached at the hips with the PPP (both Irfaan and Jagdeo and very close to every leading party official ). The duo funded the party with their business proceeds that were facilitated by PPP governments going back decades. The Mohamed’s gave $20 millions to the PPP in April 2024 for its Congress. 

Then Azruddin announced an interest in politics, to run for office. That desire sealed the Mohamed’s fate. It was a challenge to the party that Irfaan and Jagdeo could not tolerate. It was anathema to their political interests, a threat to their stint in office, over control of billions of American dollars in oil revenues.

Is it not factual that the Americans under Joe Biden were approached in a transactional proposal to remove the Azruddin threat by indicting the Mohamed’s and removing them from Guyana?  In exchange, was there a deal that mega business operations will not be audited or have their operations curtailed? 

Did American Lobbyists of mega business interests operating in Guyana convince the Biden Administration to sanction the Mohamed’s with the plan of ultimately indicting them and seeking their extradition? When Azruddin won the most seats for the Opposition Leader position in last September elections, the government didn’t want to make Azrudddin the Opp Leader. Through its laid lobbyists, the government approached the Americans to expedite the indictment and extradition. That has led to the  matter now before the magistrate and a challenge to the extradition law.

The Acting Chief Justice, who Justice Juman Yassin insinuated (Dec 31) was appointed to that position to facilitate a government plot, will deliver his ruling on the Mohamed’s constitutional challenge to their extradition on Monday. Is anyone doubtful on the expected judgment?

And what will the magistrate do on Tuesday?

Parliament is likely to meet in mid January for the new budget. It seems that the government is doing everything to prevent the swearing in of Azruddin as Opposition Leader by having him committed while judicial appeals occur. I appeal to President Trump to examine what’s happening in Guyana, violation of constitutional rights, and to have his Attorney General review the selective indictment of the Mohamed’s and the non-indictment of PPP officials and contractors who are deep in corruption violating the Magnitsky Act, OFAC, and other American laws. In fairness, the latter must also be indicted or the charges against the Mohamed’s dropped.

Yours truly,
Nathan Barton