By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has ignited a national debate on political transparency, calling for the urgent enactment of campaign finance legislation. The call follows his explosive revelation in the National Assembly that his family personally provided hundreds of millions—and possibly over a billion dollars—to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) while it was on the opposition benches.
Mohamed argued that the current lack of regulation enables a “shadow” financial system in which large-scale donors are vulnerable to exploitation or manipulation once a party assumes power.
The Disclosure: Hundreds of Millions in “Gifts”
In a detailed account provided to reporters and on the House floor, Mohamed claimed that during the years the PPP/C was in opposition (2015–2020), he was a primary financier of its operations.
- Scale of Funding: Mohamed estimated total contributions in the hundreds of millions, suggesting the total likely exceeded $1 billion when unrecorded “gifts” and in-kind contributions are considered.
- No “Quid Pro Quo”: When asked what he received in return, Mohamed maintained he received “nothing.” He asserted that his business ventures, including a recently awarded quarry license, were pursued through legitimate tender processes and significant personal investment rather than as political favors.
- Claim of Victimization: Mohamed argued that, despite his past support, he is now being “targeted and victimized” by the very administration he helped fund—a situation he claims could have been avoided with transparent donation laws.
A Decades-Old Recommendation
The call for campaign finance reform is not new to Guyana. International observer missions, including the Commonwealth, European Union, and the Carter Center, have consistently flagged the absence of such laws as a major weakness in Guyana’s democratic framework.
Current Legislative Gaps:
- Outdated Limits: The current Representation of the People Act contains spending limits for individual candidates that have not been adjusted for inflation in decades and are largely ignored.
- Lack of Disclosure: There is currently no legal requirement for political parties to disclose their donors or for donors to declare their contributions.
- No Spending Caps: There are no meaningful ceilings on how much a political party can raise or spend during a national election cycle.
The Path to Reform
Mohamed announced that his party intends to make Campaign Finance Legislation a top priority on its legislative agenda for the 2026 session. The proposed framework would likely include:
- Mandatory Disclosure: Requiring parties to publish lists of all donors exceeding a certain threshold.
- Spending Ceilings: Setting realistic and enforceable limits on election campaign expenditure.
- Independent Oversight: Establishing a non-partisan body to audit party finances and enforce penalties for non-compliance.
Government Response
While the PPP/C has not yet issued a formal rebuttal to the specific figures mentioned by Mohamed, government representatives have previously noted that any reform to the electoral framework must be “broadly consultative” and involve all stakeholders to ensure fairness. Attorney General Anil Nandlall has recently focused on dismissing Mohamed’s claims of victimization as a strategy to stall his pending extradition to the United States.
