标签： Guyana

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – In a stunning display of political dominance, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has secured her place in Caribbean political history by leading the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to its third consecutive clean sweep in parliamentary elections. The February 12th general election results mirror her previous landslide victories in 2018 and 2022, making her only the second regional leader to achieve such a feat after former Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

The 60-year-old attorney and political veteran now stands as the first party leader to win three consecutive terms in office, maintaining the BLP’s complete control over all 30 parliamentary seats. Addressing enthusiastic supporters at party headquarters in Bridgetown during the early hours of Thursday, Mottley expressed humility at the overwhelming public mandate.

“We are humbled by your confidence and trust. Thank you. Let us now come together as one people to continue building our nation,” the BLP stated officially on its social media platforms.

The Prime Minister revealed that her new cabinet will be sworn in on Monday, with the first parliamentary session scheduled for next Friday. She reflected on her administration’s challenging journey since first taking office in 2018, noting that initial plans for economic stabilization and growth were disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, Mottley emphasized her government’s continued commitment to national transformation over the past two and a half years.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) faced catastrophic defeat, with even party leader Ralph Thorne losing his St. John constituency bid. Thorne, who had previously crossed the floor from the BLP to become Opposition Leader, described the results as “disappointing” without clear explanation. His election day was further marred by voting complications, as he claimed administrative errors prevented him from casting his ballot in his proper constituency.

Political analysts delivered harsh assessments of the DLP’s performance. University lecturer and former DLP president Dr. Ronnie Yearwood called for comprehensive party reform, stating that three consecutive landslide defeats sent an unmistakable message. Prominent political scientist Peter Wickham characterized the DLP campaign as “horrible” and urged immediate leadership change and talent identification.

This historic election marked another milestone as the first in Barbados’ political history to be observed by international monitoring teams from both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth, underscoring the growing significance of Barbados’ democratic processes on the regional stage.

A significant law enforcement operation has ignited a political firestorm in Guyana, pitting the country’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) against prominent businessman and Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. The confrontation centers on allegations of illegal foreign exchange operations at Mohamed’s Enterprise on Lombard Street, which authorities claim continued despite the revocation of its license in June 2024.

SOCU released timestamped video evidence dated January 27, 2006, showing what appears to be financial transactions occurring within the premises. The footage depicts an individual, allegedly equipped with recording equipment, receiving money through a cashier cage. Law enforcement officials maintain this evidence substantiates their claim that unlicensed cambio services were being conducted illegally.

Mohamed vehemently denies the allegations, stating, ‘That is untrue. Never ever!!! I looked at the video and I am not seeing no USD.’ The businessman acknowledges the presence of hundreds of U.S. dollars in the building but argues this doesn’t prove illegal operations. He questions the logic of the accusation, noting that if they were genuinely operating an illegal cambio, they would have possessed substantially larger sums of money.

The raid resulted in the seizure of nearly GY$2 million and multiple boxes of documents. Mohamed claims these funds were designated for charitable purposes, intended to assist less fortunate individuals who regularly seek help at his establishment. Five staff members detained during the operation were later released on their own recognizance.

This incident occurs against the backdrop of previous sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) against Mohamed and his father, Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed, for alleged gold smuggling and tax evasion. SOCU characterizes Wednesday’s action as part of a broader national and regional security strategy targeting organized criminal networks involved in gold smuggling, illicit financial flows, and unlicensed money exchanges.

The law enforcement agency emphasized its commitment to combating financial crimes without political influence, stating it ‘performs its lawful functions with a strict mandate, without any political influences.’ SOCU officials confirmed that charges would be filed shortly and that a detailed forensic and financial examination of seized materials is underway.

In a significant development within Guyana’s political landscape, agents from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force executed a search warrant on Wednesday at a Lombard Street, Georgetown property formerly housing the Mohamed family’s gold dealership and foreign exchange operations. The operation has sparked allegations of political retaliation from opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, who connects the raid to his recent parliamentary disclosure about financially supporting the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Law enforcement authorities confiscated approximately GY$2 million in local currency and multiple boxes containing gold trading documentation during the 30-minute operation. Additionally, agents seized a personal firearm belonging to one of Mohamed’s uncles and detained another uncle along with an employee for questioning at a nearby police station.

Mohamed, who leads the primary opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, characterized the operation as ‘sheer political persecution’ motivated by his criticism of the current administration. He maintained that the seized funds were designated for charitable distributions to less fortunate citizens, stating: ‘All they found was a couple hundred dollars that we would help beggars on a daily basis.’

The businessman documented the entire search procedure through video recording as a protective measure against potential evidence tampering. He repeatedly urged SOCU agents to accompany him during the inspection to prevent any alleged planting of illicit materials on the premises.

This marks the first law enforcement search of Mohamed properties since the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions in June 2024 for alleged gold smuggling and tax evasion activities. Mohamed revealed that commercial banks had previously closed all family accounts following the OFAC designation, forcing withdrawal of existing funds.

The Mohamed family currently faces extradition proceedings to the United States, where they are wanted in a Florida federal court on charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Despite these international legal challenges, Mohamed maintains his innocence and asserts that his political standing has made him a target of government persecution.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd has vigorously defended the government’s decision to allocate GY$269.5 million for international lobbying services in 2026, asserting that such representation is essential for navigating global power structures. The controversial expenditure emerged during Tuesday’s National Assembly budget deliberations where opposition lawmakers questioned the substantial investment in foreign consultants.

Two Washington-based firms—DR Consultancy and Continental Strategy—have been retained at a combined monthly cost of $90,000 USD. Minister Todd clarified that DR Consultancy will receive $40,000 monthly while Continental Strategy commands $50,000 monthly, with contracts spanning six-month and yearly terms respectively.

Facing pointed inquiries from opposition parliamentarians Tabita Sarabo-Halley of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and Amanza Walton-Desir of Forward Guyana Movement, Minister Todd articulated that these registered lobbying entities serve to amplify Guyana’s voice rather than formulate policy. “They take direction from us—we don’t take direction from them,” Todd emphasized, characterizing the arrangement as essential for advancing the nation’s foreign policy objectives.

The Minister explained that seasoned lobbyists, many being retired diplomats, possess unique access to influential lawmakers and government officials that Guyana’s diplomatic corps cannot routinely access. This capability proves particularly valuable when competing for attention among larger nations, Todd noted, adding that while diaspora volunteers occasionally offer pro bono services, they lack the systematic access required for effective political advocacy.

The controversy echoes previous criticism from 2025 when the administration faced backlash for employing U.S. lobbyists targeting WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed. This development occurred shortly after two U.S. Congress members publicly criticized Mohamed on social media platform X. Both Mohamed and his father face serious legal challenges, including U.S. sanctions for alleged gold smuggling and tax evasion, alongside ongoing extradition proceedings for wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering charges.