Guyana’s Minister of Trade, Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, has publicly refuted corruption allegations regarding her acquisition of a Florida property, asserting that the purchase was legitimately financed through mortgage arrangements and rental income. The allegations were initially raised by Azruddin Mohamed, the United States-sanctioned leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.
In a detailed Facebook post on Tuesday, Rodrigues acknowledged ownership of one Florida property at 8601 NW 46th Ct. Lauderhill through a company in which she holds shares, while dismissing claims of owning three additional properties. She presented an annual tax and interest statement indicating an outstanding mortgage principal of US$378,000 as of December 31, 2024, though she did not confirm Mohamed’s claim that the property was purchased for US$540,000 in March 2024.
The minister explained that the property was acquired with financing from AD Mortgage, a U.S. financial institution, and is currently rented out with the income servicing the mortgage obligations. Rodrigues emphasized that all her overseas assets have been properly declared to Guyana’s Integrity Commission, and she complies with enhanced banking requirements as a Politically Exposed Person.
The political opposition, including the 12-seat APNU coalition and the 16-seat WIN party, has seized on the allegations, demanding Rodrigues’ resignation and independent investigations into ministers’ wealth accumulation. WIN specifically questioned the effectiveness of anti-money laundering laws when senior officials can acquire luxury properties without consequence.
Rodrigues countered that Mohamed’s allegations represent a ‘desperate narrative’ and highlighted the irony of corruption accusations coming from someone facing extradition proceedings to the United States for alleged mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering related to gold trading activities.
The minister also addressed additional properties mentioned by Mohamed, denying ownership of a residence at 946 Herstelling and clarifying that her partner owns the land dating to 2016. Similarly, she refuted claims of owning a Georgetown gas station, explaining that her partner operates the business on property owned by Shell Antilles and Guianas Limited since 1962.