Dear Editor,
Like many citizens following the recent proceedings in Guyana’s National Assembly, I have been reflecting on the November 11 swearing-in of 24-year-old Hadiyyah Mohamed as a Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Natural Resources for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party. Depending on one’s political perspective, the event reads either as gripping political theatre or as a significant test of our institutional norms.
The surrounding circumstances are undeniably complex. As local news outlets and court filings have reported, Hadiyyah entered Parliament while her older brother, WIN leader and Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed, remained on remand at Lusignan Prison in connection with a cybercrime case involving leaked CCTV footage, even as he contests a U.S. extradition request over federal fraud, bribery, and money laundering indictments. When she used her maiden remarks to call for his immediate release, her legislative arrival became closely intertwined with her family’s legal battles.
Critics, rival lawmakers, and political commentators in Georgetown have argued that this appointment resembles dynastic politics rather than standard parliamentary succession. They have pointed out the optics of assigning her the Natural Resources shadow portfolio, which oversees scrutiny of our oil, mining, and forestry sectors, given that the U.S. Department of the Treasury previously sanctioned the Mohamed family’s business enterprise, including a company bearing her name, over allegations of gold smuggling and tax evasion. To these detractors, the move looks like an effort to keep party control tightly within the family while its leader is detained.
On the other hand, WIN party officials and supporters offer a very different interpretation, viewing the milestone as a step forward for generational representation and organizational continuity. In public statements, both party representatives and Hadiyyah herself have rejected accusations of building a political dynasty, pointing instead to her academic background in governance research, and her community charity work. From their perspective, she is stepping up to ensure the opposition’s bench remains active during a challenging period.
Ultimately, whether observers view this moment as prime-time drama or as a debate over accountability and youth representation, it places a young newcomer at the centre of vital national conversations about governance, resource management, and the future of our opposition.
Sincerely,
Keith Bernard
Discussion