A Washington DC lobbying firm, which was hired by the Government of Guyana at a cost of US$50,000 per month, has dispatched a series of “draft tweets” to US Congress officials for them to use, all targeting US sanctioned businessman and Presidential Candidate for the We Invest in Nationhood party, Azruddin Mohamed.

The lobbying firm, Continental Strategy LLC, was hired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Guyana in December 2024 for an initial period of six months at a cost of $50,000 per month. According to the firm’s filing with the US Justice Department as a registered foreign agent, it has agreed to provide lobbying services and Government relations services to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guyana in connection with federal engagements and advocacy.

In an email that was sent out on June 23, 2025 by the Partner of the lobbying firm, John Barsa, to the Director of Communications in the Office of US Congressman, Carlos Gimenez, a total of five draft tweets were included for use by the Congressman. The email formed part of the public filings with the US Justice Department for the lobbying firm.

The five “draft tweets” all target Azruddin Mohamed and links him to Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, some of them describing him as a “Maduro puppet”.

This afternoon, US Congressman Gimenez released a tweet on his X (formerly twitter) page describing Mohamed as a “Maduro puppet”.

In that tweet, which mirrored some of those sent to his office by the lobbying firm, the Congressman stated that “In the U.S. Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine #Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC! The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold of freedom — not a breeding ground for communist dictatorships”

One of the “draft tweets” submitted by the lobbying firm to the US Congressman’s office stated that “Maduro’s sanctioned puppet Azruddin Mohamed’s presidential run is alarming. The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold of freedom–not a breeding ground for communist dictatorships”.

There are four other “draft tweets” that were sent by the lobby firm to the US Congressman’s office for use.

One of them stated “Venezuela’s attempt to encroach into Guyana through pro-Maduro puppet Azruddin Mohamed’s Presidential run is alarming. The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold of freedom–not a breeding ground for communist dictatorships”.

Another “draft tweet” submitted by the lobbying firm to the US Congressman’s office stated that “US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, seen as sympathetic to Maduro-style politics is running for President in Guyana. This is more than a local issue-It’s a warning for democracy in the Americas”.

The Partner of the Lobbying, John Barsa, in his email to the staff for the US Congressman stated that he was sharing the material, including the “draft tweets”, on behalf of the Government of Guyana. All of the information, including the email exchange was also filed by the lobbying firm, Continental Strategy, with the US Justice Department.

The hiring of the lobbying firm by the Guyana Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that lobbying firm providing information for use to US Congressmen targeting a Presidential hopeful in Guyana could be seen as interference in local politics and the upcoming elections.

In response to a story posted by another News Agency about the tweet on Facebook, International Relations Expert Neville Bissember stated that the Congressman is a member of the Lower House, not the Senate. He said, “Besides, US foreign policy is articulated by the State Department, not a single solitary 71 year old anti-Maduro Republican”.

Elections in Guyana are set to take place on the 1st September 2025. Azruddin Mohamed who was sanctioned by the US Government in June 2024 along with his father, their businesses and Government Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas, announced his Presidential run in May, and has been busy on the campaign trail since then.

Two weeks ago, he unveiled the name and symbol of his party.

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