From Talk Show to Talk Name Show

Nov 09, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

The antics of the Law Enforcement Agencies in Guyana have come to the forefront in a display of sheer terror and clumsiness in the ongoing prosecution and persecution of Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar (Shell) Mohamed. Never has any agency, under both PPP and PNC, acted with such alacrity and zeal to confront such a scenario. The crude manner of the arrest and placement on the back of a pick-up truck evokes memories of the Burnham dictatorship, characterized by inhumane treatment, brutality and frivolous charges. (In 1980, I was arrested for having two loaves of bread). It is noteworthy that the gas station ‘terrorism’ suspects were placed inside police vehicles and driven to the lockups.

Now to the usual Thursday soliloquy and ranting at Freedom House. The chief honcho and de facto PPP leader shifted into overdrive in blasting the Mohameds for alleged financial crimes, comically alluding to the most talked about car in CARICOM – the Lamborghini (he could not even pronounce the name correctly). The 191 billion overdue taxes claimed by the Guyana Revenue Authority turned a back somersault as the charges were withdrawn even before the ink had dried on the case dockets! Perhaps the self-anointed oil expert ought to focus on recovering the advance monies paid to Tepui for the $870.5 million Belle Vue Pump Station Project, a contract that was later rescinded. Tepui received $160.894 million in advance and up to Jagdeo’s press conference time, the company has only repaid $8.11 million, or just 6.25% of the amount advanced. The Auditor General’s 2024 Report on the Public Accounts of Guyana clearly pinpoints that the Government is still to recover $121.7 million from Tepui Group Inc., a company owned by social media commentator Mikhail Rodrigues, widely known as “Guyanese Critic.” And what about investigating the assets of many ministers who own properties (many in other peoples’ names)?

The foremost personnel directing the Mohamed’s tragedy (or is it comedy?) are the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecution; who were both charged and accused respectively of theft and fraud. It is in the public domain that Shalimar Hack, the DPP was fingered in buying lands while President Ali (who himself was slapped with 19 fraud charges) was Housing Minister at undervalued prices while the chief lawman, Anil Nandlall, was accused of stealing books. Is it possible that the old adage ‘set a thief to catch a thief’ applied here?

The PPP regime, rapidly morphing into an oligarchy, is unravelling and its hegemonic attributes can only cultivate more dissent and bitterness among the populace. A colossal contradiction now looms: Do we go after local businesses for taxes while giving away billions of US dollars in duty free and tax concessions to the foreign Chinese, Australian and Canadian gold mining companies? No need to mention EXXON.

In conclusion, seeing that the entire Guyana witnessed the VP mention the name Azruddin and Mohamed over 200 times at his November 06 press conference, it would be more accurate to describe the weekly Freedom House talk show to a talk name show.

Sincerely,
Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

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Azruddin Mohamed, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine, Nazar Mohamed, Talk Name Show, Talk Show

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