Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and members of his family collectively hold mining rights that exceed the combined holdings of all of Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha’s children, the minister has said, rejecting allegations made against his son’s business activities.
In a statement, Mustapha described the allegations as false, misleading and unsupported by credible evidence, noting that Mohamed continues to make unsubstantiated claims while serious allegations of misconduct involving him remain the subject of public scrutiny.
Mustapha said he had previously addressed what he believes to be the reasons behind continued attacks on his son, adding that rather than responding to the issues raised or producing evidence, the same accusations had been repeated on social media and in the public domain.
He explained that the attacks began after his son chose to pursue an independent business path, since which he has faced repeated public allegations and attempts to damage his reputation. Mustapha maintained that his son’s business affairs are entirely separate and independent, and that he, like any other citizen, is entitled to engage in lawful business activities without harassment, intimidation or politically motivated attacks.
Mustapha stated that all of his son’s mining lands were acquired through lawful procedures established by the relevant authorities, with allocations made by competent agencies acting within their statutory authority. He added that every Guyanese has the right to apply for gold-mining properties provided they comply with the law, pay the required fees and make the necessary investments, noting that his children have been engaged in medium-scale mining for several years, conducted openly and in accordance with applicable laws.
Mustapha rejected Mohamed’s allegation that mining properties connected to his children are being leased to foreign companies, pointing out that Mohamed had failed to identify a single foreign company or produce evidence to support the claim.
He argued that if Mohamed genuinely believes any law has been broken, the proper course would be to submit evidence to the competent authorities for investigation. He stressed that repeated allegations made through social media, political platforms or public commentary are no substitute for evidence, and public accusations do not constitute proof.
The minister said he remains committed to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, and would not be distracted from his responsibilities. He urged the public to reject misinformation, insist on facts, and allow relevant institutions to perform their functions independently and without political interference.
