‘No Constitutional Crisis’ – Sarabo-Halley

Oct 08, 2025 News

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…slams ‘political theatre’ over Azruddin Mohamed’s indictment

(Kaieteur News) – Member of Parliament elect for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, has rubbished claims that Guyana is facing a “constitutional crisis” following the indictment of businessman and Opposition figure Azruddin Mohamed, calling such suggestions “politically opportunistic nonsense” designed to mislead the public.

Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, have been indicted in a U.S. federal court in Miami, Florida on 11 charges of wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and the importation of a Lamborghini luxury car- all stemming from accusations of massive tax fraud committed against Guyana.

The indictment, unsealed on October 2, 2025, accuses the Mohameds of orchestrating an elaborate fraud and money-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions in taxes and royalties owed to Guyana.

At the heart of the US Government’s case lie several core allegations, among them gold export fraud and customs seal reuse. The indictment seen by this newspaper charges that Mohamed’s Enterprise, the Guyana-based gold wholesaling and export company controlled 90% by Nazar and 10% by Azruddin, is alleged to have sold gold to buyers in Miami and Dubai, while circumventing Guyana’s revenue and regulatory system. The indictment claims that the defendants would reuse official Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) customs seals and export declarations, originally applied legally on one shipment on subsequent shipments for which they had not paid taxes or royalties. This, prosecutors say, created the false impression that proper payments had been made.

Additionally, the duo is also accused of bribing state officials to facilitate their alleged corrupt acts. The indictment sets forth that the Mohameds paid bribes to Guyanese government officials, including customs agents to allow the acceptance of duplicate paperwork and reused seals. Through this mechanism, the scheme allegedly enabled the evasion of duties and royalties that should have gone to Guyana’s coffers

In a strongly worded statement posted to her Facebook page on Tuesday, Sarabo-Halley who was the party’s prime ministerial candidate at the just concluded elections declared that there is no provision in Guyana’s Constitution barring an indicted person—locally or abroad from taking the oath as a Member of Parliament or serving as Leader of the Opposition.

“Nowhere in the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana does it say that an indictment disqualifies a duly elected MP,” she asserted, pointing to Articles 155 and 156 which clearly define the qualifications and disqualifications for Members of Parliament. “An indictment is not among them.”

The WIN Parliamentarian- elect blasted those claiming that Parliament has been “plunged into crisis,” calling the narrative baseless and irresponsible. She stressed that Parliament remains constitutionally intact and fully functional, and that the Leader of the Opposition is a post filled by the collective will of non-government members, not by speculation or hysteria.

Sarabo-Halley a former Public Service Minister and who served in the 12th Parliament for the APNU+AFC coalition also dismissed talk of a so-called “consensus candidate” as “absurd and disrespectful to the electorate.”

“The people of Guyana did not vote for backroom consensus they voted for representation,” she said. “To now call for ‘consensus’ as a way to block an elected representative is to trample on the democratic will of the people.”

Selective outrage

Turning her attention to what she described as “selective moral outrage”, Sarabo-Halley reminded the public that President Irfaan Ali himself once faced 19 fraud charges over the sale of state lands before becoming Head of State.

“Those charges were later dropped, but they existed nonetheless,” she noted. “Even his Canadian visa was revoked at the time, yet the PPP never called that a constitutional crisis.”

She questioned the double standard, arguing that if Ali could become President while under serious allegations, then Mohamed’s indictment cannot suddenly become a constitutional calamity.

“The Constitution must apply equally to all,” Sarabo-Halley emphasised. “Anything else is pure political theatre.”

The WIN MP elect, concluded by urging citizens to see beyond partisan spin and recognise that the rule of law and consistency not selective outrage form the backbone of Guyana’s democracy.

Mohamed himself in a statement Monday evening blamed the government for the charges against him.

He said fearing the momentum seen at the last election and the cry of the Guyanese people for change, “they (PPP/C) are doing everything possible to stop me. The constant attacks, whether directly or indirectly, are to weaken me, with hopes that if they hit hard enough, I will cower and retreat. Truth be told, if I rid myself of my political ambitions, these attacks will cease, but I, Azruddin Mohamed, leader of We Invest in Nationhood and Leader of the Opposition (Elect), reaffirm my commitment to you, the Guyanese people. I will continue to stand up and fight, no matter the cost.”

“Please know that for the love of country and on the principle of service over self, I stand resolute. I will not be silenced. When the wicked came to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though they encamp against me, I shall not fear. To my supporters, thank you for standing with me,” he concluded in his statement.

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• Azruddin Mohamed, Constitutional Crisis, indicted, Nazar Mohamed, sanctions, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

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