Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C., has strongly condemned what he described as a deliberate attempt by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed to “mock” Guyana’s justice system after Mohamed arrived at the Attorney General’s Chambers with two wheelbarrows full of cash and coins in an attempt to satisfy court-ordered costs.
Mohamed, accompanied by others, brought one wheelbarrow containing small‑denomination $20 and $100 notes and a second wheelbarrow packed with coins, purportedly to pay sums ordered against him and his father following unsuccessful court challenges. The delivery came hours after a firm directive from the Attorney General’s office setting a deadline for compliance.
Nandlall called the stunt reckless and immature, saying it was a calculated attempt to embarrass the government that instead undermined public confidence in the rule of law. “He is behaving like a child in a grown man’s body,” the Attorney General said, adding that the act was an affront to the administration of justice.
The Attorney General also argued the payment method raised legal and practical problems. Citing the Bank of Guyana Act, Cap. 85:02, Nandlall said paper currency is unrestricted as legal tender but coins are only legal tender up to specified limits — $100 for $1 coins, $250 for $5 coins and $500 for $10 coins — meaning the bulk of the coins presented could not lawfully be accepted. “Unfortunately for Mr. Mohamed, he will have to take back the barrel of coins,” Nandlall said.
Beyond the legality of the cash itself, Nandlall warned that the episode would not deter enforcement. He said enforcement proceedings are being prepared to recover the millions ordered by the courts and stressed that compliance with judicial rulings is mandatory. “I have seen many who have attempted to trample upon the rule of law,” he said. “The law will be applied, and those who must be held accountable will be held accountable—whether in Guyana or elsewhere.”
The Attorney General noted he was engaged in official duties when he was informed of the delivery. He reiterated that respect for the judiciary and its decisions is essential to maintaining order and civility, and said attempts to ridicule or defy court orders only reinforce the need for firm enforcement.
The wheelbarrow payment follows a series of adverse rulings against Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, by the High Court and Court of Appeal, which collectively ordered millions in costs to be paid to the State. The Attorney General’s Chambers has not yet issued a separate formal response to the delivery. The matter remains under observation as enforcement preparations continue.
