Azruddin Mohamed seen handing out cash as GECOM warns against vote buying

Guyanese opposition parties have spoken about growing reports of voter inducement ahead of general elections, after presidential candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is under United States sanctions, was filmed distributing cash to members of the public and making other promises to voters.

In a widely circulated video, Azruddin is seen handing out money in an indigenous village.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and other opposition groups have urged voters not to be swayed by offers of cash, boats, outboard engines, or other gifts in exchange for political support.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday issued a statement reminding all candidates and citizens that offering or accepting inducements in return for votes is a criminal offence.

GECOM: Obstructing the secrecy of the vote is an offence

“Further, it is an offence for any person, directly or indirectly, to offer any money, gift, and/or a loan, to any voter to secure the vote of any voter at the elections,” the Commission stated.

GECOM warned that violators face a fine and up to six months’ imprisonment on summary conviction. Those convicted may also be barred from contesting future elections.

The Commission has not yet pronounced whether voters would be allowed to take their mobile phones into the polling booth. What’s for sure is that voters would not be allowed to take photos of the ballot paper to indicate how they voted. If they do, they could be persecuted.

In the recent Local Government elections, GECOM had prohibited the use of cellphones in polling stations or in the polling booths.

GECOM reminded all stakeholders that they all have a statutory duty and civic responsibility to contribute to the elections being conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner.

While GECOM did not specify whether an investigation into Mohamed’s conduct is underway, it urged all political stakeholders to comply with electoral laws and ensure the integrity of the upcoming polls.

Mohamed was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department last year for alleged involvement in corruption and bribery related to gold dealings, and candidates of his party have had their bank accounts closed. Three commercial banks have taken this action.

The Guyana Association of Bankers, which represents 11 financial institutions across the country, issued a statement recently about the bank closures. It said that all licensed commercial banks in Guyana are guided by strict regulatory obligations, critical to the preservation of the financial system’s integrity.

The statement from the association comes as Azruddin’s We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party called for the boycott of two commercial banks because of the bank account closures.