A bit of drama unfolded in the compound of the Attorney General Chambers this afternoon as Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed, turned up with two wheel barrows of money to pay Court costs associated with recent Court cases that were not in his favour.
One of the wheelbarrows contained a large amount of $1, $5 and $10 dollar coins, while the other wheel barrow contained $20 and $100 notes, all adding up to $1 million, according to Mr. Mohamed.
He said he decided to roll in the penny bank savings owing to the commercial banks closing his accounts because of the US sanctions and him being unable to transact business with the banks. He said the Attorney General demanded that the money be paid by tomorrow, and he decided to make the payment one day earlier.
“I came here to fulfill my obligations to ensure that he receives his money. He gave us a deadline of Friday at 4pm and tomorrow is my holiday. And I want to spend the holiday with my fellow brothers and sisters, tomorrow is Eid, so I wouldn’t have time tomorrow and so I decide to bring the cash here today to clear of the debt of $1million. I don’t think its petty, it is money. If someone pays me with coins, I will accept immediately because any supermarket, any gas station, anywhere you go they will accept coins or $20 bills. It is not petty. I don’t have no other option because they forced all the banks to close by accounts, this is the only option I had at hand to go into the children’s penny bank and take the money out and bring it immediately”, Mohamed said.
The cashiers at the Attorney General’s Chambers were seen counting off the money as the Attorney General had indicated that it is legal tender. However, in a live social media broadcast, AG Nandlall said Mohamed would have to take the wheel barrow with the coins with him as he expressed concern about the the large amount of coins.
“There are laws that govern how coins can be used and how bills can be used to settle debts in Guyana. And the relevant provisions of the law in relation to coins read as follows: Legal tender coins shall be accepted throughout Guyana in settlement of any public or private debt or monetary obligation up to a limit of $100 for coins of denomination of $1, $250 for coins of denomination of $5 and $500 for coins of denomination of $10. So that is the extent by law to which coins can be used as legal tenders to settle debts. Unfortunately for Mr. Mohamed, he will have to return the barrow of coins, he will have to take it away and I hope as he barrowed coming in, and that went live, that when he is barrowing coming out with the coins, that will go live as well”, the AG said.
He described the situation that played out in the compound of his Chambers as a “circus”, which he believes has backfired on the Opposition Leader. He said a Court has ruled and Court orders must be followed.
Mohamed said he was following the orders of the Court by making the payment of the costs in keeping with the AG’s deadline.
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