The war of words between Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Mohamed family appear to be heating up with the Vice President today challenging the sanctioned business magnate to provide evidence of the transactions that he claims the Government conducted with his businesses after the sanctions were imposed against them by the US Government.

On Wednesday, Nazar Mohamed told News Source that the same Government that has now started an onslaught against the family and its businesses by not renewing a number of their business licenses was still doing business with the family after the US sanctions were handed down last year.

He believes the Government’s posture against the family may be related to his son, Azruddin Mohamed, possibly having political aspirations.

While not entirely denying that any business was conducted with the family since the sanctions, Mr. Jagdeo urged the Senior Mohamed to make the evidence public.

“So, I would Challenge Mr. Nazar Mohamed, to make public what these transactions were, I will urge him since he has this information about three major business transactions that were done in the last year since he was sanctioned, he should release the information about what this is about, since we are all for transparency,” Jagdeo challenged.

Mr. Jagdeo said he will review the issue in detail if Mr. Mohamed releases evidence of the Government conducting businesses with the family after the sanctions.

The Vice President justified the Government cutting off all business ties to the family, reiterating that many Guyanese would be at risk should the Government continue to cozy up with the sanctioned family.

“So, I am hoping he would release them, I am calling on him, like I did last week to release what they (transactions) are,” Mr. Jagdeo noted.

On the issue of the Guyana Revenue Authority now demanding an additional $900 Million in taxes on four cars imported four years ago by the Mohameds, Mr. Jagdeo said there is no vindictiveness with the GRA’s move. The Mohameds have accused the Vice President of being behind the GRA’s demand, which they plan to challenge in Court.

He said it was Azruddin Mohamed who made the issue public when he published the records of taxes paid for the vehicles and drew the GRA’s to the matter.

“I didn’t know what a Lamborghini cost, and I dont know how much he paid to the GRA until he posted it, in fact, GRA themselves saw it and they responded, he brough GRA to the fore now he is saying he wants to hire a lawyer because it was four years ago,” Jagdeo said.

But Mr. Jagdeo said the Act provides for proceedings to be filed under the Customs law within five years after the date of the offence. He said there was an under-declaration of the cost for the vehicles.

The Mohameds have complained about the US sanctions and the impact of those sanctions on the family and their businesses.

In the past months, the Government has refused to renew a number of licenses for the Mohamed family businesses, including their Cambio and shipping operations.

The Mohameds have said the US sanctions should not affect them doing business in their own home country.

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Nazar Mohamed claims Govt. engaged in major transactions with family after US sanctions. Jagdeo says Government will not put country at risk by doing business with the Mohameds Nazar Mohamed decries impact of US sanctions; Accuses Government of hostility and misrepresentations Government discontinued use of US lobbying firm after confirming Mohameds family was using same firm -VP Jagdeo