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U.S. Ambassador’s comments a “clumsy attempt” to influence outcome of elections
…Guyanese have right to vote for whoever they wish – Int’l lawyer Melinda Janki
International lawyer Melinda Janki
Kaieteur News – International lawyer Melinda Janki has responded to comments made by the United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot, who said Washington would be concerned if Azruddin Mohamed is elected to government or even a member of parliament.
In a statement on Monday titled, “Democracy means freedom to vote for the candidate of your choice” Janki outlined that the Guyanese voters are entitled to vote for Mohamed if they wish – given that he has satisfied the conditions for running for public office. Mohamed who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2024, is the presidential candidate for We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), a political party that was launched in June 2025 and is one of six parties that will be contesting the September 1 General and Regional Elections.
Last week on the sideline of an event in Georgetown Ambassador Theriot disclosed that the U.S. was “very concerned” about the possibility of Mohamed entering government and how that would affect the dynamics between the U.S. and Guyana. However, international lawyer Janki noted, “Like it or not, Mr. Mohammed has satisfied the conditions for running for public office in Guyana. Guyanese voters are entitled to vote for him if they wish. The people will decide freely, as is their right. It’s called democracy.”
United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot
She said that although democracy is better than the alternatives, it can deliver self-defeating results. To this end, she outlined that the American version of democracy has elevated Donald Trump, with 40 felony convictions, a court finding of sexual abuse and six bankruptcies, to President of the United States. “It must be rather humiliating for Her Excellency to have a felon and sexual predator as her ultimate boss. Obviously, Her Excellency’s job is to promote the interests of the United States which includes ensuring that American companies can continue to enrich their shareholders through blatant extractivism,” Janki said.
Ambassador Theriot had contended that Mohamed being in government is “problematic in multiple ways.” The ambassador explained that if someone sanctioned by OFAC were to become part of the administration, it would restrict or change how the U.S. government interacts with that government.
She said too that the situation would likely raise concern among U.S. private sector entities already operating in Guyana or planning to invest. Ambassador Theriot underscored that the U.S. and Guyana are currently in a “beautiful position” due to how welcoming the country has been to American companies. “…and I don’t want, if he [Mohamed] were to become a member of the government to change,” she noted.
Moreover, Janki highlighted that the government bleats about ‘investment’ and she called on government to start acting in national interest. She asked, “Ambassador Theriot’s clumsy attempt to influence the outcome of our elections has exposed the ‘elephant in the room’ – to whom will the PPP/C answer – American companies or Guyanese citizens?” To this end, Janki raised several questions, who can the voters now trust and will Guyana finally get a parliament in which no single party can dictate and destroy the country’s future; but requires all Parliamentarians to work together in the national interest.
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All the USA has to do if that man won the election they just have to pack their back packs and bye-bye Guyana is not a us state All they need is the resources what their having for free they don’t want to see it change