Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has delivered a full throated defiant message to President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, declaring that neither man nor the government they lead will intimidate him into abandoning his political responsibilities.
Speaking at a protest outside the Canadian embassy on Tuesday, Mohamed launched a blistering attack on the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, charging that it was waging a relentless campaign of political persecution aimed at breaking him and undermining his ability to function as Opposition Leader.
But he insisted that he would remain in Guyana and continue fighting the government.
“They are trying to break me, but when God is for you, no man, no man, absolutely no man can stand against you.”
His remarks came amid escalating tensions following an October 12 shooting incident outside the Barr Street, Kitty, residence of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch.
Mohamed has described the incident as an assassination attempt. Police, however, have presented a different account, and the Opposition Leader and two members of his staff have been charged in connection with the incident. All three pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
The dispute has become another flashpoint in the already contentious relationship between Mohamed and the government, with the Opposition Leader alleging that state institutions are being used against him.
“They cannot break me!”
Addressing supporters and other protesters, Mohamed rejected suggestions that his detention and the ongoing legal proceedings would discourage him from confronting the administration.
He recalled spending 81 hours in police custody and dismissed the experience as insufficient to deter him.
“If they think they can break me, they lie. Chat you know who you’re playing with, and Irfaan, he know who they’re playing with.”
He also invoked his religious faith, declaring that he would continue his political struggle despite what he described as intimidation and sustained pressure.
“Every day I will continue and fight with them. They cannot break me. They cannot break me.”
Mohamed said his work for the public continued on birthdays, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, arguing that his commitment to constituents would not be undermined by the government’s actions.
He accused the administration of devoting excessive time and resources to monitoring him instead of addressing the country’s social and economic challenges.
“If President Irfaan can focus some more on the people’s work, take your mind off of the Opposition Leader and focus on the people of this country, and ensure you can better their lives,” he said.
Claims of Surveillance and Political Persecution
Mohamed further alleged that Special Branch officers were constantly monitoring him, including during his private time and in circumstances affecting his family.
He also claimed that the government was spending billions of dollars pursuing him while failing to demonstrate adequate accountability over the use of public resources.
The allegations come against the backdrop of the ongoing US extradition proceedings involving Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, as well as the recent criminal charges arising from the Kitty incident.
The government has previously rejected claims that the shooting incident was being misrepresented, insisting that the law must take its course. Narine has also denied in court that President Ali instructed him to place Mohamed under surveillance for political reasons.
Those competing accounts have deepened the political confrontation, with questions surrounding the shooting, the handling of evidence and the Opposition Leader’s allegations still requiring scrutiny.
Mohamed also renewed his complaint that police had retained his cellphone for eight days, saying its continued absence was interfering with his ability to communicate with the public.
‘The work of the people must go on’
Despite the controversy, Mohamed vowed to continue his political activities and called on Guyanese to support his efforts to hold the administration accountable.
He thanked supporters for their prayers and participation in the peaceful protest, portraying their continued backing as essential to his ability to withstand the pressure.
The Opposition Leader also appealed to the international community to pay attention to developments in Guyana, arguing that the allegations he has raised warrant greater scrutiny.
His declaration that he would not be broken sets the tone for an increasingly confrontational political struggle between the Opposition Leader and the PPP/C administration.
However, the allegations of politically motivated persecution remain disputed, and the criminal proceedings arising from the Kitty incident must be resolved through the courts.
Mohamed vowed to stand his ground, defy the Ali-Jagdeo administration and wage an unrelenting fight against what he describes as political persecution, declaring that no amount of pressure, intimidation or legal battles will force him to abandon his post as Opposition Leader or retreat from the political battlefield.
