President Dr Irfaan Ali has dismissed as “totally disconnected from the truth” suggestions that there was any deliberate delay in reconvening Parliament, making it clear that every step taken by his government is within the bounds of Guyana’s Constitution.
Speaking with journalist, Fareeza Haniff, during an interview moments before the 13th Parliament convened on Monday, the Head of State shunned what he called a “misinformation campaign” by the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and others seeking to politicise an ongoing international criminal investigation.
“Constitutionally, I had up to this point to reconvene the Parliament and I said from day one that I will act in accordance with the Constitution and I have,” the President affirmed.
Under Article 69(1) of the Constitution, Parliament must be reconvened within four months of its dissolution. Parliament was dissolved on July 3, 2025, meaning the government had until November to act, a timeline that the President said has been strictly observed.
President Ali strongly rejected claims circulating online that the reconvening of Parliament was delayed due to the ongoing extradition process involving businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed.
Azruddin is the leader of WIN and will take his Oath as a new Member of Parliament today. He is also tipped to become the next Leader of the Opposition.
Calling the assertion “mischievous” and “politically motivated,” the President said the investigation into the Mohameds’ activities began long before his administration took office in August 2020 and that his government merely continued a legal and administrative process already underway.
“This is not an investigation that originated from here (Guyana); it is international in nature,” he said. “So this notion that Parliament was delayed for an extradition is totally disconnected from the truth. It’s a narrative created for a specific intention and purpose.”
The President stated that the United States government has been collaborating with the Government of Guyana on the case, which involves allegations of gold smuggling, money laundering, and other criminal offences. He emphasised that indictments and extradition requests go through a rigorous legal process that has nothing to do with politics.
“An indictment is not arrived at in a simple way. The court has to be convinced that a clear case has been laid out,” President Ali said. “This has nothing to do with political persecution or victim syndrome — it’s a straightforward legal matter.”
EVIDENCE SHARED, GRA PURSUING CASES
President Ali disclosed that the United States Government has shared evidence with Guyanese authorities showing that the Mohameds deprived the country of significant tax revenue.
“We have evidence where the country was robbed of taxes and the GRA is pursuing those matters,” he stated.
“We also have evidence of undervalued invoices for vehicles, and the GRA is handling that as well; everything in accordance with the law.”
He accused Azruddin Mohamed of attempting to create a “victimhood syndrome,” which he said forms part of a broader disinformation campaign.
“Some of this misinformation is designed for a specific purpose,” the President warned. “We are now living in what the world calls a ‘pandemic of misinformation and disinformation’.”
GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING THE LAW, NOT POLITICS
The President reiterated that his administration has a responsibility to cooperate with international partners on issues of criminality and to uphold the rule of law.
“This investigation started long before 2020. We came in and met it; we cooperated and followed all the legal and administrative mechanisms,” Dr Ali explained. “The People’s Progressive Party/Civic government is a responsible one. We are working with our international partners and fulfilling our duty to the people of this country.”
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