Facing a mounting electoral threat ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections, the Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has taken a dark and desperate turn — hiring a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm at taxpayers’ expense to launch an orchestrated smear campaign against opposition presidential candidate Azruddin Mohamed.
In a recent pre-dawn national address, President Irfaan Ali struck a tone that was more fearful than presidential, warning voters that the future of Guyana’s security and international relationships rested on their vote. While refraining from explicitly naming names, Ali heavily implied that Mohamed — and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed — posed an existential threat to Guyana. The remarks leaned on U.S. sanctions imposed on the two men for alleged tax issues and gold smuggling. The Mohameds have since hired U.S lawyers to address the matter.
But behind the president’s veiled threats lies a more sinister truth. The PPP government has been quietly funding a foreign lobbying campaign to malign Mohamed in the international arena. NewsSource broke the explosive revelation that the Guyanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs hired U.S. lobbying firm Continental Strategy LLC at a staggering US$50,000 per month, totaling over US$300,000 yearly in taxpayer money, to paint Mohamed as a Venezuelan agent — a grotesque distortion intended to damage his credibility with both Guyanese voters and American lawmakers.
Documents filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) confirm that the firm has been disseminating draft tweets and briefings to U.S. congressional offices, falsely portraying Mohamed as a “pro-Maduro puppet” and “threat to democracy.” The irony is palpable- a government claiming to defend Guyana’s democracy is now engaging in foreign-backed propaganda to suppress a domestic political rival.
Mohamed Fires Back
In a swift and scathing response, Mohamed condemned the PPP’s foreign lobbying effort as “an abuse of state power” and “an attack on every Guyanese citizen who dares to dissent.”
This isn’t foreign policy — this is fear policy, Mohamed said in a statement released June 30. Mohamed further called the PPP out for using tax dollars to lie about him to a foreign country and endanger his family in the process.
Mohamed, the presidential candidate for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, flatly rejected Venezuela’s long-controversial claim to the Essequibo region — calling it a betrayal of his roots and of Guyana’s sovereignty.” His father, he noted, was born in Essequibo, grounding the family’s bond to the contested region in personal history, not political expediency.
Desperation Sets In as WIN Surge Spreads Deep into PPP Heartland
The government’s smear tactics come as Mohamed’s campaign continues to make stunning inroads — not just in swing regions, but in the PPP’s historical bastions. From Unity, the home village of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, to Port Mourant, birthplace of PPP founder Dr. Cheddi Jagan, crowds have turned out in droves, not simply in support of Mohamed, but in protest of a government they say has lost touch with its people.
“We’ve waited 23 years for change. Now, we’re ready to make it happen,” one elderly voter told reporters at a recent rally in Berbice. “The PPP can’t scare us anymore.”
Pattern of State Abuse
This latest controversy is not an isolated case. Mohamed outlined a broader pattern of authoritarian behavior by the PPP:
- Weaponizing state media to silence criticism and spread misinformation
- Targeting political opponents through character assassination
- Colluding with foreign agents to undermine domestic democracy
Mohamed’s legal team is now exploring civil and criminal charges against the government for what he called a deliberate campaign of defamation and foreign interference. He also signaled possible appeals through international diplomatic channels.
If they can [use state resources to attack] me, they can do it to any one of us. We must not allow this dangerous precedent to stand.” At the same time Mohamed called on voters to support his party and “Vote for a government that defends its citizens, not attacks them.”
A Referendum on Fear or Freedom
As election day nears, analysts have suggested the Ali government is no longer running on vision, but on intimidation. One commentator told this publication that rather than earn the public’s trust through performance and policy, the PPP has resorted to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars overseas to try to destroy a political opponent at home.”
September 1 is shaping up to be more than an election. It may be a referendum on the future of democracy in Guyana: one ruled by fear, or one built on hope.
See full press statement below:
Statement by Azruddin Mohamed, Presidential Candidate of WIN We Invest in Nationhood – Use of State Resources to Fund US Political Campaign Against the Mohamed Family.
For immediate release – June 30, 2025
It has emerged beyond any reasonable doubt that the PPP-led Government of Guyana has used taxpayer’s funds to finance a US lobbying firm to launch a campaign aimed at falsely portraying me as an agent of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.
Let me be absolutely clear: I reject Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo. My father is Essequibo-born. I would never betray the soil my family is rooted in. I stand firmly for Guyana’s sovereignty; I always have and always will.
Documents and filings under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) show that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid the U.S. lobbying firm Continental Strategy $50,000 USD per month, and a total of over $300,000 USD, to distribute defamatory information and push a misleading narrative about me and my family to American lawmakers, including false tweets describing me as a “pro-Maduro puppet” and a “threat to democracy.” This is not the first time they have done this.
What we are witnessing is not foreign policy. Once again, this is the PPP using a foreign nation to attack me, my reputation and my credibility. By falsely linking me to a hostile regime, the Government is deliberately placing my safety and that of my family at risk. They are attempting to delegitimise my candidacy through deception and fearmongering.
This follows a deeply troubling pattern by this administration:
- PPP spreading lies and misinformation about political opponents
- State media being weaponized to defame Guyanese
- Giving false information to foreign governments to persecute citizens
I am currently in consultation with my legal team about pursuing civil and criminal action against the Government of Guyana for issuing and financing these false claims through a registered foreign agent. I am also exploring diplomatic channels to ensure this abuse is exposed.
I urge every Guyanese, regardless of political persuasion, to be vigilant. If they can do this to me, they can do it to any one of us. We must not allow this dangerous precedent to stand. On September 1st, Guyana has a chance to choose a different path; a path where political competition is not met with persecution.
Vote for a new government that defends its citizens, not attacks them. Vote WIN!
