‘Circus backfires’ – Nandlall blasts Mohamed over wheelbarrow cash stunt

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C., has condemned what he described as a deliberate attempt by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed to “mock” the justice system, after he turned up at the Attorney General’s Chambers with wheelbarrows of cash and coins to settle court-ordered costs.

The incident unfolded as Mohamed, accompanied by others, arrived with two wheelbarrows—one filled with small-denomination $20 and $100 bills, and the other packed with coins—purporting to pay sums owed following failed legal challenges in the courts.

Speaking publicly on the matter, Nandlall described the act as reckless, immature and a direct affront to the rule of law.

“He is behaving like a child in a grown man’s body,” the Attorney General said, adding that the move was a calculated attempt to embarrass the government but instead undermined the country’s legal system.

“This is not about politics,” Nandlall stressed. “There is one system that protects all of us—the legal system of this country—and you have someone making a mockery of it.”

The Attorney General warned that such actions strike at the core of the administration of justice, arguing that regardless of political affiliation, all citizens must ultimately rely on the courts for the resolution of disputes and the protection of their rights.

According to Nandlall, the stunt unfolded while he was engaged in official duties, including a high-level national meeting, when he was informed that Mohamed had arrived at his office seeking to make payment.

However, he made it clear that the method of payment itself runs afoul of the law.

Citing the Bank of Guyana Act, Cap. 85:02, Nandlall explained that while paper currency can be used without limit, coins are only recognised as legal tender up to specific thresholds—$100 for $1 coins, $250 for $5 coins and $500 for $10 coins.

As a result, he said, the bulk of the coins brought to the Chambers cannot legally be accepted.

“Unfortunately for Mr. Mohamed, he will have to take back the barrel of coins,” Nandlall stated, adding that the attempt had effectively “backfired.”

Beyond the theatrics, the Attorney General signalled that enforcement proceedings are already being prepared to recover the millions owed under court orders, warning that compliance with judicial rulings is not optional.

“I have seen many who have attempted to trample upon the rule of law,” Nandlall said. “The law will be applied, and those who must be held accountable will be held accountable—whether in Guyana or elsewhere.”

He cautioned that while legal processes may take time, they are inevitable and decisive.

The payment attempt follows a series of court rulings against Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, including decisions by both the High Court and Court of Appeal, which collectively ordered millions in costs to be paid to the State.

Nandlall maintained that any attempt to ridicule or defy court orders only reinforces the need for firm enforcement, emphasizing that respect for the judiciary and its decisions is essential to maintaining order and civility in society.