Former parliamentarian and minister in the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), Annette Ferguson, has launched a direct attack on President Irfaan Ali, accusing him of double standards and undermining public confidence by defending Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues while longstanding corruption allegations in his administration remain unresolved.
In a letter published today in Village Voice News, Ferguson said Ali’s latest comments on ministerial assets “raise serious concerns, not only about transparency and accountability, but about the troubling double standards that have come to characterise governance in Guyana.” She argued that dismissing questions about Rodrigues’ wealth reflects a broader pattern where allegations against senior officials are minimized or ignored. “What is most striking is that while the President found time to defend or dismiss questions surrounding ministerial assets, he again failed to acknowledge the gravity of the multiple and persistent allegations of corruption hanging over his government,” she wrote.
The controversy surrounding Rodrigues began with opposition figures, especially Azruddin Mohamed, leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party. Mohamed and others have accused Rodrigues of amassing wealth far beyond her official salary, including multiple properties in Guyana and a Florida home allegedly purchased through a company she controls. WIN and APNU have questioned the use of shell companies, compliance with banking and anti–money-laundering rules, and demanded a full independent investigation, as well as her removal from office pending the probe.
Ali has defended Rodrigues, saying he is satisfied with her explanations and disclosures to the Integrity Commission. He framed the allegations as political rhetoric rather than proof of wrongdoing. Rodrigues has denied all claims, calling them “libelous and simply false,” insisting her properties were legally acquired, fully declared, and often financed through mortgages. She has published supporting documents and refused to step aside.
Ferguson said the issue goes beyond Rodrigues, highlighting a systemic imbalance in how the state handles allegations of wrongdoing. While ministers enjoy public protection, ordinary citizens and lower-ranking officials face swift, aggressive scrutiny. She pointed to the investigation of customs officers who were “by all indications, carrying out their lawful duties,” writing: “While state resources are swiftly mobilised to scrutinise lower-ranking public servants and citizens, the same urgency is conspicuously absent when serious questions arise about the conduct and wealth of those in political office.”
She also questioned Ali’s assurances of impartial investigations, citing his past legal troubles and “longstanding public allegations involving Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, including claims that major deals were conducted from his private residence.” Ferguson recalled that Jagdeo had publicly said he intended to take legal action against Chinese businessman Su Zhirong. Allegations first surfaced in 2022 through a Vice News investigation, which suggested Jagdeo may have been linked to under-the-table payments for investment deals. The report showed Su introducing a journalist posing as an investor to Jagdeo at his private residence, implying bribes or “processing fees” could be required to secure government support. Jagdeo denied wrongdoing and later filed a US$50 million defamation lawsuit against Su.
Ferguson warned that the cumulative effect of selective enforcement is damaging, creating “a society in which politicians appear free to act with impunity, while citizens are left with a stark choice: put up or shut up.” She framed the controversy as a broader test of governance in Guyana: “Is this the Guyana we are building? Is this the standard of governance we are prepared to bequeath to future generations?” As opposition calls for independent scrutiny persist and Ali continues to defend Rodrigues, Ferguson’s intervention sharpens the focus on whether accountability in Guyana is applied evenly—or only at the highest levels of power.
