GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The political party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), has written to the United Nations (UN) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), claiming political discrimination and financial persecution.
The letter pointed not only highlight the “plight” faced by candidates in the lead up to the September 1 Elections, but to call on the global and regional leaders to heap pressure on several local banks, by condemning their decision to terminate the accounts of the political candidates for the party, and demand that those accounts be reinstated.
In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, WIN’s General Secretary, Odessa Primus, said several banks in Guyana, including the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, the New Building Society, and Demerara Bank have closed the accounts of several of its candidates, forced untimely repayment of loans and refused to provide services to the candidates.
“These actions are not based on any breach of law, financial irregularity, or misconduct. It has become evident that the decision by these banks to take this approach is due to our members’ decision to support the WIN part, which is led by Azruddin Mohamed, a Guyanese businessman whose businesses were sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC),” Primus said.
She told the UN Secretary-General that there is no legal or regulatory ground to justify the closure of the accounts, adding that the party sees the move as “actions of pure political discrimination and persecution.”
Calling on the UN to not only condemn the actions of the local banks but also demand that the accounts be reopened, Primus said the consequences are devastating.
“Public servants, who have served their country faithfully for decades, suddenly cannot access their salaries because their accounts have been closed. Candidates have been stripped of the basic right to participate in the financial community. Some have been fired from their jobs because of their political affiliation. Others, who own small businesses, are being forced to operate outside the banking system. A shopkeeper and single mother shared with us through tears that she now carries large sums of cash in her handbag, risking her safety daily, to keep her business alive,” the party’s General Secretary complained.
Primus said the actions of the banks are unjust, discriminatory, unfair, and profoundly undemocratic. It was noted that access to financial services is a fundamental right of citizens, and to deny them that right because of their political choice is wrong.
She contends that the actions of the banks violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“By targeting members and supporters of the WIN Party, these banks are effectively stripping citizens of their legal, social, and political rights, in clear violation of international norms that Guyana has freely accepted,” Primus said.
She said the UN must act and defend the rights of citizens by condemning the discriminatory practices. It is also calling on the UN to engage the Government of Guyana and financial institutions with a view to bringing an end to these discriminatory practices.
In a separate letter to CARICOM, Primus told the CARICOM Secretary General. Dr Carla Barnett stated that the actions of the banks also violate the Charter of Civil Society for the Caribbean Community.
Primus called on CARICOM to condemn the actions of political persecution and to urge the banks to reinstate all affected accounts.
WIN is also calling on CARICOM to deploy a team of observers to investigate and report on the violations.
Primus said the issues are now beyond the closure of the bank accounts, but touch on the problems of freedom, equality, and democracy.
In 2024, businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who now heads the recently formed WIN Party, was sanctioned by the US Government along with his father and their businesses, and Government Permanent Secretary Mae. Thomas.
The sanctions remain in place. Following the publication of the list of Candidates for the WIN party, led by Mr. Mohamed, several commercial banks have taken steps to close their accounts, citing internal policies and concerns about association with the sanctioned businessman.
Just this week, the Carter Center, which is among international observers for the upcoming elections, described the actions of the banks as “over-compliance” and noted the impact it could have on the participation of the affected candidates.
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