For Elections 2025, which will be held on September 1st, 2025, the Presidential candidate of the PPP, the incumbent President, Irfaan Ali, and the General Secretary of the PPP, the incumbent Vice-President of Guyana, Bharat Jagdeo, have both had to address the issue of vote-buying. One Presidential candidate, Azruddin Mohamed, has been accused by both the incumbent President and vice-President and many others of actively engaging in vote-buying. The allegation is not a wild one, as there is widespread suspicion across Guyana that Azruddin Mohamed is engaged in vote-buying. People actually admit they attend his meetings because they expect money to be shared.
The suspicion of vote-buying has aroused concerns in various corners across the country. It is disconcerting that GECOM was forced to issue a warning to political parties and individuals that “buying” votes is a crime in Guyana. It has not escaped Guyanese that an individual with a political party that he “owns” is suspected of “buying” votes and bribing people to attend its meetings in order to show that he has support around the country. But the vote-buying and bribing practice has become blatant enough for GECOM to issue its warning. In Guyana, vote-buying is a crime.
Vote buying is a corrupt practice that undermines the integrity of democratic elections. This involves the exchange of money, goods, or services for votes, which may result in the election of candidates who are unqualified or do not represent the interests of the people. Vote-buying is an ulcer that eats away at a democracy. Unfortunately, vote-buying has become a critical factor in Guyana’s Elections 2025. While, on the one hand, Mohamed has denied he bribes people and that he has paid people to become candidates for his party, he has openly admitted, on the other hand, that he has built houses for people and given them cars and cash handouts as “charity”. Now that he has entered politics, he is ensuring that these people show their “gratitude”, and he is not shy in reminding them he gave things to them.
Both Irfaan Ali and Bharat Jagdeo have insisted that the PPP does not bribe anyone for their votes and does not condone vote-buying, insisting that the PPP has always earned its votes in elections. They rely on the party’s track record of keeping promises, successful implementation of projects and policies, transformative work in infrastructure-building and changing people’s lives to earn votes.
The problem the PNC, the PNC-led APNU, WIN and AFC have is that they are unable to rely on their track record, which essentially is a litany of broken promises. These parties, in one way or another, to varying extents, also fetch the albatross of rigged elections around their necks. Azruddin Mohamed does not lead a political party as much as he “owns” a political party. Around the country, every time people hear that Mohamed is coming to their community, some people attend because they expect that “money will be shared”.
It is reprehensible that a man with political aspirations assaults the dignity of ordinary people by trying to buy their votes. Herein lies a fundamental difference between Irfaan Ali and Mohamed and between the PPP and WIN, the party that Mohamed owns. The PPP fights for people to walk with their heads held high, with their dignity intact. WIN robs people of their dignity.
It is even more reprehensible that Azruddin Mohamed has not been upfront with his followers. He has deliberately misled people. The truth is Mohamed has tried to use people as a shield to protect him from his growing troubles with international authorities. While he constantly lies to people that the Guyana Government led by President Irfaan Ali has sanctioned him, the truth is that he has been sanctioned by the US Government for drug trafficking, gold smuggling and evasion of taxes. He has tried to confuse people by saying, on one hand, that the US Government has not sanctioned him but also insisting that sanctions only apply to his companies. He has never informed his “followers”, paid or not, that association with him leaves them also at risk. It is utterly reprehensible that any political leader would expose his followers to jeopardy, such as being denied the privilege of having a bank account or being able to have an American travel visa.
This column challenges Azruddin Mohamed to come clean with his “followers”. Azruddin Mohamed must tell his “followers” who sanctioned him and why they sanctioned him. If he has any semblance of decency and integrity, he will inform them of the consequences of associating with him. Mohamed must tell his “followers” why his sister and brother-in-law, who actively participate in his political activities, have not been listed as candidates, as they try to shield themselves from the wrath of the US Government. If his “followers”, having been duly informed by Azruddin Mohamed, still want to follow him and bear the consequences of associating with him, then that would be their democratic right. Mohamed has an obligation to his “followers” to treat them with dignity and respect.
Mohamed has chosen to lie to his followers and has shown no care for them. Those who have bank accounts have had their bank accounts closed. Instead of levelling with his followers, he has tried to recruit them and the Guyanese people in boycotting the banks and businesses associated with the banks. Businesses that employ almost 4000 people with decent salaries have been threatened by Mohamed as he urges his “followers” and the Guyanese people to boycott these businesses.
It is ironic that Mohamed has accused Irfaan Ali and the PPP Government of rampant corruption when he is a poster child for corruption, big enough for the US Government to sanction him and his businesses. Far from being a credible Presidential candidate, he has added another layer to his growing corruption credentials.