Govt. going after the Mohameds over US-millions but not US-billions from Exxon in taxes – Glenn Lall 

Mar 09, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- While the Governments of Guyana and the United States of America (USA) have been silent on the massive taxes not being paid here by U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil, the respective governments have slapped a local family with sanctions for allegedly evading the payment of about US$50 million in taxes to the local treasury.

This has resulted in the government cutting off all business with the family, effectively shutting down its operations in the gold, petroleum and quarry fields.

Highlighting what he believes is a great injustice to the Mohameds’ family was Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall during his Friday evening Radio programme, aired on 99.1/ 99.5 FM.

Lall who has been a bold voice against corruption and an advocate for a fair oil contract with ExxonMobil used his platform to share his concerns regarding the unfolding events.

He was clear that he was not interested in defending the Mohameds’ but in fact believes that if the family broke the law, then it should be subject to the legal system. The newspaper Publisher however pointed out that to date, government has not received a shred of evidence to support the allegations of tax evasion by the family.

To this end, he warned listeners that the fate of the Mohameds’ can befall any Guyanese in the future. In presenting his case, Lall reasoned, “A Guyanese family, accused with no evidence, not convicted of defrauding taxes in their own country, is now being cast aside, blacklisted, and financially crippled, by a foreign country and while all this is happening, ExxonMobil and other foreign partners walked out of Guyana with over US$10 billion in unpaid taxes to Guyana—more than twice the total debt Guyana sitting with at the end of last year.”

The businessman pointed out that the U.S. has not said a word against this, as he questioned the double standards that victimize Guyanese. Lall instead observed that the American company is instead praised for not making tax payments in Guyana.

To this end, he said, “The world cannot be that unjust, that distorted, that up-sided down. Where is the U.S. sanction for that?  Where is the outrage for the billions ExxonMobil extracts while Guyana borrows to prop up its budget, to survive year after year? How do you explain this meh brothers and sisters?”

Lall, known for his analogies, told listeners of the programme that the situation is equivalent to a man who is accused of taking a pint of milk from his own cow being sanctioned, while a stranger who is taking the whole bucket of milk and the cow gets protection, special treatment, and free reign to do as they please.

He argued, “One set of rules for the foreign exploiters, another set for the Guyanese people. And some of our leaders still believe this is about justice?  Wake up people, wake up Guyana.”

While the Mohameds’ have been barred from doing business with U.S. companies, Lall noted that government has also turned its back on the family over the alleged tax evasion.

He said, “tell me, which law in Guyana gives the govt. more so (Vice President Bharrat) Jagdeo, the authority to blacklist a private business without due process? The man and his family are entitled to a fair hearing, that is what is called due process. Look at the double standards in this country!”

Lall contended that drug lords still operate their businesses freely in Guyana; convicted criminals of some of the most heinous crimes are still free to operate, along with corrupt officials who continue to loot the nation’s wealth through shady deals and inflated contracts.

Moreover, the newspaper Publisher pointed out that foreign corporations are stripping Guyana’s wealth, walking away with billions of US-dollars without paying a single cent in tax and still allowed to operate freely.

Politically motivated

 The advocate believes that the actions taken by government against the Mohameds’ are deliberate.

He explained, “The young (Azruddin) Mohamed has been making waves throughout the country with his charitable work, and that is causing fear in the political arena.  The government is seeing the love, the support, the admiration that Guyanese from all walks of life are throwing behind this young man for simply lending a helping hand where it is most needed, and the love of the people, the response of Guyanese to this young man is causing great fear in the political spectrum, more so the government.”

Lall told listeners of his radio programme that his experience has thought him that too much popularity, influence and respect can threaten the “sweet life in office” for politicians, hence he believes they would leave no stone unturned to “crush” such a person.

Consequently, the newspaper Publisher made it clear, “This isn’t about taxes.  This isn’t about justice.  This is about power and anyone who climbing towards that stage, will be chopped down. The whole of Guyana knows that.”

He continued, “They see the support; they see the love he is receiving from the citizens and they see his influence growing and, in their minds, if he ever throws his hat into the political ring, both of them, the PPP and PNC are in trouble.  So, what do they do? They move to crush him before he even gets there.”

Lall was keen to note that all State resources are being deployed against the family, with efforts even being made to smear the young man’s name through rape allegations, among others.

On Thursday, VP Jagdeo during his press conference told reporters that anyone who does business with the Mohameds’ can be sanctioned by the U.S.

Jagdeo said, “It’s a gross misrepresentation to claim, as he (Nazar Mohamed) did, that it’s only American companies that could face sanctions if they associate with the Mohamed’s.” According to him, this is clearly outlined in the statement issued by the U.S.

Jagdeo quoted a section of the statement which outlines, “In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action…the prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods or services by, to or for the benefit of any designated person.”

Weighing in Jagdeo’s comments, Lall pointed to the duplicity of government choosing not to conduct business with the Mohameds’ over an allegation but allowing ExxonMobil to continue to loot the country of billions in taxes.

The oil deal signed by the government of Guyana in 2016 waives the payment of corporate taxes by the company. Be that as it may, ExxonMobil Guyana is required to pay taxes on its profits earned here to the government of Bahamas, where the company is registered.

Kaieteur News previously reported that Guyana has so far given up over US$10B in taxes since it began producing oil in December 2019.

 

(Govt. going after the Mohameds over US-millions but not US-billions from Exxon in taxes – Glenn Lall) 

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• Exxon, Glenn Lall, Mohameds, sanctions, taxes, U.S

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