Dear Editor,
I AM writing to express my strong, unequivocal support for U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot’s recent decision to withhold an invitation from Guyana’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed to the United States’ 250th Independence Anniversary celebration last night at the Four Points Sheraton in Georgetown, Guyana.
This was not a snub of the Guyanese people, but rather a necessary, principled boundary. It sends a powerful, unambiguous message against transnational crime, corruption, and the subversion of state resources.
While the diplomatic community rightly respects the domestic democratic processes that placed the current opposition leadership in parliament, a clear line must be drawn when it comes to international engagement.
The current Opposition Leader is a designated individual under U.S. Treasury (OFAC) sanctions, having been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida. The charges against him, including massive gold smuggling; systemic tax evasion; wire fraud and trade-based money laundering are not mere political disagreements.
They represent allegations of severe transnational crimes that directly undermine the financial systems and security of both the United States and Guyana.
For the U.S. Embassy to extend an invitation to an individual currently facing active U.S. extradition requests for allegedly defrauding the Guyanese state of over 10,000 kg of gold worth in excess of US$50 million in taxes would be a deep contradiction of American foreign-policy values. It would mock the joint bilateral commitments to law enforcement, transparency, and anti-corruption.
Ambassador Theriot’s decision serves as a sobering reminder that political status does not grant immunity from accountability, nor does it wipe away serious federal indictments. True governance and bilateral respect are built on a shared intolerance for financial crimes.
The U.S. Embassy is completely justified in maintaining this strict diplomatic stance, safeguarding the integrity of its national milestone celebration.
Happy 250th Independence Anniversary, USA!