The countdown is on in the oil-rich CARICOM nation of Guyana, where voters head to the polls on September 1 amid warnings from international observers and claims of political discrimination from a rising third party.
The U.S.-based Carter Center, which has been monitoring Guyana’s electoral process since late June, released a preliminary assessment this week, citing several issues that could undermine the integrity of the elections. Among the concerns: “local authorities’ approval of campaign events, alleged intimidation of public workers, as well as overcompliance of local banks with recent U.S. sanctions, which threatens political participation.”
The sanctions, issued in June 2024 by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), targeted Azruddin Mohamed, the presidential candidate of the We Invest in Nationhood Party (WIN), his father Nazar, several of their companies, and government official Mae Thomas Jr. The measures froze Mohamed’s U.S.-linked assets to block any transactions that could benefit him.
Following the approval of WIN’s candidate list in July 2025, the Bank of Nova Scotia and Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry closed the personal accounts of 40 WIN candidates and members. The Carter Center warned that while banking caution is understandable, “mere association with a political party, without any evidence of transactions or facilitation of these transactions, does not constitute a proper basis for terminating accounts.”
WIN alleges that dozens of its candidates, supporters, and donors have had accounts frozen, loans canceled, and salaries withheld, leaving teachers without pay and small businesses forced to operate in cash. “This is about the right of every citizen without fear to work, bank, and participate in democratic processes,” the party said in a statement on Wednesday.
Mohamed has denied wrongdoing, maintaining his eligibility to run while his lawyers contest the U.S. sanctions. WIN has called on CARICOM to condemn “discriminatory practices” and urged the United Nations to deploy investigators and pressure Guyanese authorities and banks to reinstate affected accounts.
The claims of bias come as WIN’s multi-ethnic coalition gains momentum, with some analysts suggesting it poses a growing threat to the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). President Irfaan Ali, seeking a second five-year term, has rejected accusations of interference, insisting financial institutions are acting under global compliance rules.
Tensions escalated Thursday when police in Region Six stopped Mohamed’s convoy for an “obscured” license plate and tinted windows as he headed to a rally. WIN leaders accused authorities of harassment, noting that nearby PPP/C vehicles leaving a government event were not stopped.
Allegations of state abuse
The Carter Center also reported complaints of state resources being used to benefit the ruling party, including government vehicles deployed for campaigning, temporary workers assigned to political activities, and public events doubling as PPP/C promotions.
It further cited promotions for 2,800 police officers and free bridge crossings announced in recent weeks. While legal under Guyanese law, the Center said such measures “violate international standards for fair play,” and flagged state media bias in favor of the government.
