Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), stated on Thursday that only the President enjoys immunity from prosecution, not members of Parliament. His comments come amid speculation that Azruddin Mohamed, who contested the September 1 elections, aimed to secure the presidency to evade potential legal repercussions.
Now that the election results have been announced based on Statements of Poll (SOPs) and District Declarations, Jagdeo emphasized that any criminal behavior will be thoroughly investigated. He assured the public that the courts and relevant authorities would continue to operate “professionally and diligently.”
“Azruddin Mohamed will not be allowed to disrupt the lives of our people if he has any intention,” Jagdeo asserted, signaling a firm stance against any attempts to cause chaos.
According to Guyana’s Constitution, the President is granted immunity from civil and criminal proceedings during their term of office; however, this immunity does not extend to legislative members.
Concerns regarding Mohamed’s actions are heightened by the sanctions imposed against his family by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury on June 11, 2024. These sanctions specifically targeted Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin, and their businesses—Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World, and Team Mohamed’s Racing—due to allegations of gold smuggling and corruption.
As a consequence of these sanctions, the Mohamed family’s business licenses were revoked, and their bank accounts were closed. Mae Thomas, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who was also sanctioned, faced similar financial consequences.
Jagdeo’s statements reflect the PPP/C’s commitment to governance and accountability, as the party prepares to continue its leadership role in the government.
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