Nandlall says tweets attacking Mohamed not orchestrated by Govt

Jul 03, 2025 News

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…but lobbying firm says it was done on behalf of Guyana Govt. 

Kaieteur News- Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has dismissed local media reports that the government has been using a hired United States (US) lobbying firm to target sanctioned businessman, Azzrudin Mohamed.

The matter became a source of widespread contention after two US policymakers shared tweets that were prepared by the lobbying firm, which said they were being done on behalf of the Guyana Government.

On Tuesday, Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar from Florida said the US remains “deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana”. Similarly, Congressman Carlos Gimenez accused the sanctioned businessman of being a puppet of Venezuela’s sanctioned President, Nicolas Maduro. Mohamed has since dismissed the tweets as propaganda, while restating that Essequibo belongs to Guyana.

“Rather than [the media]…reporting on what the tweet says or what the tweets say…Their focus seems to be on some lobbying company that they are accusing of being paid by the Government of Guyana to prepare these tweets,” Minister Nandlall stated.

Speaking during his weekly televised programme “Issues in the News”, he sharply criticised the local media for bringing the integrity of the two US policymakers into question. “Are they suggesting that the US Congressmen and women are a bunch of rubber stamps? That these people have no integrity? That they have no self-respect? That they will prostitute their position as members of Congress and… publish something that somebody has in their hands and say, tweet this to Guyana?” he asked.

He reasoned that the public utterances by the US policymakers must not be taken lightly, saying that the use of social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), has become a widespread and legitimate platform utilised by the Trump administration.

Minister Nandlall reminded his viewers that during the controversial 2020 General and Regional Elections, the US administration was very vocal about its concerns on attempts by the APNU+AFC Coalition in office to undermine the will of the people. Members of the US Congress, senators, and even Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had threatened visa sanctions against complacent officials. AG Nandlall explained that top-level US officials do not simply echo what is given to them by foreign actors or special interest groups. Rather, they express views shaped by personal investigation, national security briefings and the values they represent.

Contrary to Nandlall’s arguments, according to public filings with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Government of Guyana entered a six-month contract with Continental Strategy LLC in December 2024. The contract is worth US$50,000 per month and outlines that the firm would provide lobbying and government relations services to Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim, according to the filing, is to: (1) increase U.S. trade and investment in Guyana; (2) assist in financial sector reforms; and (3) raise Guyana’s profile in the United States. The firm’s duties include lobbying, preparing and disseminating informational materials, and engaging directly with U.S. policymakers. However, on June 23, John Barsa, a partner at Continental Strategy, emailed the Director of Communications for U.S. Congressman Carlos Gimenez, sharing the five draft tweets. In the email, Barsa clarified he was sending the material “on behalf of the Government of Guyana.”

The drafted tweets read as follows: “US-sanctioned gold mogul Azruddin Mohamed is running for president in Guyana. This isn’t just a local scandal—it’s a warning. The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold for democracy, not a playground for authoritarian influence.”

“A sanctioned Maduro ally running for president in Guyana? This isn’t just politics—it’s a red flag. The Western Hemisphere must not become a safe haven for authoritarian expansion.”

“Venezuela’s attempt to encroach into Guyana through pro-Maduro puppet Azruddin Mohamed’s presidential run is alarming. The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold of freedom—not a breeding ground for communist dictatorships.”

“Maduro’s sanctioned puppet Azruddin Mohamed running for president in Guyana is Venezuela’s latest attempt to creep into a sovereign democracy. The Western Hemisphere must reject authoritarian influence. #Guyana #Venezuela #FreedomFirst”

“U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, seen as sympathetic to Maduro-style politics.”

In a statement on Tuesday, Azruddin Mohamed strongly condemned the lobbying campaign, saying it was a deliberate attempt by the PPP-led government to discredit him using taxpayer funds. “It has emerged beyond any reasonable doubt that the PPP-led Government of Guyana has used taxpayer funds to finance the U.S. lobbying firm to launch a campaign aimed at falsely portraying me as an agent of the Maduro regime in Venezuela,” Mohamed said.

He rejected any affiliation with Venezuela’s government. “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.” Mohamed further accused the government of using misinformation to harm his candidacy and endanger his family, stating, “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.” He further claimed that this was not the first time such tactics had been used, asserting that the Government’s objective was to “delegitimize my candidacy through deception and fearmongering.”

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• Anil Nandlall, Guyana Govt, SC, United States, US policymakers, X (formerly Twitter)

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