By Travis Chase |HGP Nightly News |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a formal statement on Tuesday, February 10, clarifying its role in the extradition process and defending its decision to remain silent on diplomatic requests. The move follows intense public and judicial scrutiny after a high-ranking official revealed in court that a separate, unrelated extradition request had been received from the United States in late 2025.
The Ministry’s clarification aims to address reports that the government had previously denied the existence of a new request, a claim the administration now says was a misunderstanding of the context.
Supplemental Docs vs. New Requests
The Ministry explained that its recent interactions with U.S. authorities involved two distinct sets of documents, which has led to public confusion.
- Supplemental Data: Documents received in late November 2025 were supplemental to the original October 30 request for Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed. These documents included additional evidence and legal certifications required for the ongoing committal hearing.
- The “Secret” Request: However, during cross-examination in the Mohamed case, Permanent Secretary Sharon Roopchand-Edwards confirmed that a new, separate extradition request for an unidentified Guyanese national was received on November 25, 2025.
The Ministry maintains that its earlier “denial” referred to the Mohamed case and asserts that no new request had been filed against them beyond the original bundle.
The “Highly Confidential” Procedure
Describing extradition as a sensitive state-to-state matter, the Ministry outlined the rigorous procedure governing such requests.
The Extradition Workflow:
- Initial Receipt: Requests arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via diplomatic channels (usually a diplomatic note).
- Verification: The Ministry confirms the existence of a valid treaty or arrangement with the requesting territory.
- Transmission: The “diplomatic bundle” is then transmitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
- Judicial Phase: Only after the suspect is located and an “Authority to Proceed” is signed does the matter enter the public court system.
Addressing Claims of Secrecy
The Ministry stressed that it is standard international practice not to issue public statements when it receives extradition requests. This is done to:
- Prevent Flight Risk: Publicizing a request before an arrest warrant is issued could alert the suspect.
- Maintain Diplomatic Comity: Extradition is a policy-driven cooperation between sovereign states that requires mutual trust.
- Protect Integrity: Premature disclosure can compromise ongoing investigations by foreign law enforcement.
“Because of security and diplomatic sensitivities, the Ministry does not issue public statements when extradition requests are received,” the statement read, countering claims of political bias or lack of transparency.
Ongoing Scrutiny
Despite the Ministry’s explanation, the identity of the individual in the November 25 request remains a point of intense speculation. Opposition members and the Mohameds’ defense attorneys continue to argue that the “unusual speed” with which the Mohameds were processed—compared with the silence on other requests—points to political motivation.
