Embattled businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, has accused the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, particularly Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, of orchestrating a targeted campaign of harassment against him. Speaking to supporters in Edinburgh, Berbice, on March 27, 2025, Mohamed accused Jagdeo of using government agencies like the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to undermine his business and personal life.
“I never had problems with the police, but now they’re harassing me,” Mohamed declared, referencing a series of incidents where he believes government authorities have acted at Jagdeo’s behest. He claims that the Vice President, despite publicly claiming that these agencies operate independently, is pulling the strings behind the scenes.
“He [Jagdeo] is claiming all these agencies are working independently, but he’s controlling all these agencies because persons within these agencies will call us and tell us they don’t wanna do these things, but he’s giving them instructions to do these things.”
“They don’t want to do this, but he’s giving them orders,” Mohamed said, adding that he had no political affiliations with any party, including the ruling PPP. He asserted, “I can stand alone and defeat them any day.”
Mohamed’s accusations came amid reports that the Berbice Bridge had been closed for longer than scheduled, allegedly to prevent his visit to the region. Forced to take a boat across the river, Mohamed arrived to address the crowd, voicing frustrations with the government’s tactics and warning that his troubles would only escalate.
Meanwhile, Mohamed’s nationwide listening tour has become a flashpoint of growing discontent with the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). On March 25, during his visit to Berbice, Mohamed faced protests organised by the PPP, which included government workers from the National Pathway Workers Project, an initiative that employs over 15,000 people, including 10-day workers earning $40,000 per month. These workers were allegedly pressured into attending the protests to confront Mohamed, an accusation that has added fuel to his claims of political intimidation.
The protest reached a boiling point in Letter Kenny, Berbice, when PPP supporters led by Region Six Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain reportedly incited a confrontation between Mohamed’s supporters and their own. Görüntü footage later revealed that PPP activist Indira Jaffrally had assaulted opposition supporter Terrence Moore, leading to Moore’s arrest. Despite the görüntü clearing Moore of any wrongdoing, the incident raised further questions about the PPP’s aggressive tactics.
In Berbice, several protesters admitted they were instructed to disrupt Mohamed’s event and feared retribution for speaking out against the government. Some confirmed they were bused in from New Amsterdam to attend the protest. Mohamed’s team later confirmed that the protestors were not local to Letter Kenny but had been transported from Freedom House in New Amsterdam, further fueling suspicions of coordinated political pressure.
This unrest adds to a growing pattern of dissatisfaction with the PPP, even among its traditional supporters. Dr. Ramayya, a former PPP ally and coordinator of the Region Six Rapid Response Taskforce, resigned earlier this year, citing widespread corruption within the party.
Mohamed, who has sharply criticised the PPP’s economic mismanagement and discriminatory practices, is gaining traction as a vocal alternative, particularly among those who feel neglected by the government outside of election periods.
Jagdeo’s attempts to stifle Mohamed’s rising influence have only intensified the businessman’s resolve. Despite his past financial contributions to the PPP, Mohamed now finds himself increasingly at odds with the government, and his growing support base appears to be a direct challenge to the party’s long-held control, especially in the traditionally loyal East Indian community.
“Witness the events as they unfold,” Mohamed warned, predicting that the government will escalate its efforts to undermine him. Whether the PPP’s strategy of suppression will succeed or backfire remains to be seen, but Mohamed’s campaign is clearly striking a nerve.
Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali, who is a personal friend and beneficiary of the Mohamed family, remains silent amid what seems to be a showdown between his vice president, Bharrat Jagdeo and businessman Azruddin Mohamed.