Dear Editor,
I read with great amusement the Mohamed family’s recent statement lamenting the supposed “persecution” of the family after the lawful impoundment of one of their uninsured vehicles by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). According to them, Guyana is descending into tyranny because, apparently, the rule of law had the audacity to apply to them.
Perhaps it is time to stop pretending that all citizens are equal under the law and accept that some families, like the Mohameds, are simply too important to be governed by such trivialities as the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act or the Income Tax Act. In fact, I suggest we consider enacting special legislation, the ‘Mohameds Exception Act,’ that allows this distinguished family to operate with impunity and privilege, and disregard any other law they find inconvenient. After all, this is a family whose record already speaks volumes when it comes to adherence to the rule of law, in and out of Guyana. Both Azruddin and his father, along with several of their companies, have been sanctioned and indicted by the US Government for financial crimes including mail and wire fraud.
Clearly, if they can brush off federal charges, what’s a little local infraction about an uninsured car? I must admit, however, that their attempt to cloak traffic violations in the language of democracy, persecution, and international concern is almost impressive in its creativity. To compare being pulled over for breaking the law with the oppression faced by political prisoners in Pakistan or gang violence in Haiti requires a level of dramatic flair that should at least earn them an Oscar, if not immunity from the police.
Or maybe they simply are unable to distinguish between political persecution and law enforcement. And maybe if they are genuinely interested in defending democracy, perhaps they can start by respecting the laws of the democratic state they claim to love. The rule of law does not bend to the wealthy or the well-connected as they seem to believe. So yes, I support the Mohamed’s call for fairness; the fairness of ensuring that every Guyanese, regardless of wealth or surname, faces the same consequences when they break the law. Until then, may their next statement be accompanied by valid insurance certificates for the cars they drive.