Bring it on-PPP/C versus Mohamed

Jun 02, 2025 News

Dear Editor,

Even a school kid knows that in any legal dispute, it is only one party that has the ‘burden of proof’ to show that he/she is correct, while the other party has no such burden and is ‘presumed’ to be correct. The burden of proof requires the accusing party to ‘produce evidence’ to establish the truth of facts needed to satisfy all the required legal elements of the dispute. In other words, if I make a claim, or accuse someone of something, then I will have to bring the evidence, or retract (sometimes with penalties).

So, I find it rather silly that “TIGI (is) demanding “clear, unambiguous responses from President, VP on Azruddin Mohamed’s claim.” The very headline self-destructs and debunks. Who is the accuser? Azruddin Mohamed. Who must substantiate? Azruddin Mohamed. Again, it is quite mind-boggling that TIGI, the supposed candid, unbiased, transparent body is loud-mouthing here.

The news has it that “The Guyana chapter of Transparency International has (now) called on President Irfaan Ali and Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, to explain in clear terms what really transpired between themselves and new presidential candidate, Azruddin Mohamed regarding the importation of his luxury vehicle.”

So first, I note that TIGI is assuming veracity for Mohamed’s accusation, elevating it into a ‘Statement of fact.’ I note also that “Mohamed is before the court for alleged false declaration and tax evasion.” He is not before the courts for some sort of collusion, and should ‘collusion’ of some sort help his cause, then so be it, but again, I boldly declare that ‘collusion’ is not the issue. The purported crime is that “… Mohamed falsely declared to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), that he purchased one Lamborghini Roadster SVJ for USD$ 75,300 instead of its initial cost USD$ 695,000.” In conjunction with this, is that “… on the same day, he fraudulently declared the amount for the said Lamborghini to USD$75,300, instead of USD$695,000, which resulted in taxes in the sum of G$383 million being evaded.” This is the gist of the matter. As far as news in the press goes, GRA can and will substantiate and Mohamed will have to ‘his denial of this,’ and not whether or not he was aided and abetted by members of the PPP/C Government, which, if so, will lead to another issue.

Mohamed has repeatedly stated that “… it was President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo, who facilitated the importation of his luxury vehicles (whether or not this means tax evasion as well remains unknown). To this, “Both Ali and Jagdeo have publicly denied the allegation, with each ‘charging’ Mohamed to produce the evidence.” I mean if he could and would will be the crux of this issue, and I remain in revulsion that TIGI is clamouring for ‘clear and unambiguous’ statements from the Vice President and President on the matter.

Concerning Mohamed, his boast is that “I have proof where Irfaan Ali facilitated and assisted with the clearance of the Lamborghini. I’m waiting for him to say that that is a lie. And trust me, anytime he comes out and say it’s a lie, I’ll show the whole country how…he is.” I can hardly wait…mores that Jagdeo challenged Mohamed to release the evidence: “Let him release the evidence that President Ali told him to submit a false invoice to the GRA.

Editor, the way I see things, if Mohammed can, with a battery of lawyers, prove ‘authenticity’ of his claims, then I am sure his Presidential Ambitions will be bolstered.

Yours truly,

Hargesh B. Singh

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