By Svetlana Marshall

US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, today said the decision by local banks to cut ties with candidates of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, which is led by US sanctioned Guyanese Businessman, Azruddin Mohamed was “entirely independent” and has no association with the US Government.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a US Peace Corps Volunteer Programme at the Umana Yana this morning, the Ambassador said the decision by local banks to discontinue the provision of services to WIN candidates because of their association with Mohamed, has nothing to do with the sanctions handed down by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

“There is absolutely no association. The OFAC sanctions are for the US. They are the US Government, and they pertain solely to what happens in the United States and business being done in the United States. The decision by the banks here was entirely independent,” Ambassador Theriot said in response to a question posed by News Source.

More than 30 WIN candidates from across the country have had their bank accounts closed by Demerara Bank, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Citizens Bank and the New Building Society (NBS), since the publication of the party’s approved List of Candidates by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in late July.

Demerara Bank was the first bank to sever ties.

In a letter seen by News Source, Demerara Bank informed WIN Candidate Natasha Singh that it had taken a decision to discontinue all services provided, “in compliance with our internal policies and banking requirements”.

Ambassador Theriot today made it clear that the local banks did not consult the US Embassy before arriving at such a decision.

“We were not consulted. We were not asked. We have no opinion on the matter. The banks here make their own decisions,” Ambassador Theriot said.

Ambassador Theriot said the issue of discontinuing banking services provided to WIN candidates is entirely a private sector matter for which the US played no part.

Asked whether the decision could have been made due to the relations with corresponding banks in the US and the possible impacts of the sanctions on those relations, Ambassador said she could not say whether there were discussions between the local banks and their banking partners in the US.

Meanwhile, on the issue of Mohamed’s candidacy, Ambassador Theriot said she stands by earlier statements that his election to Government or the National Assembly could effectively cause the United States Government to change the way it conducts business with Guyana.

She said her statement was made on basis of facts.

“I was stating facts. I was asked what being OFAC sanctioned meant in terms of the US Government, being able to work with an individual, and I simply gave the facts that have occurred in other countries where OFAC sanctioned individuals have been the member of the government and how the US Government had to adjust, how we worked with that government. And I would say the exact same thing today. I simply stated the facts as they are publicly available on the Department of Treasury,” the Ambassador said.

Ambassador Theriot said the US has no interest in interfering in Guyana’s elections.

“We have absolutely no interest in interfering in your elections. I was asked a question, I gave the facts…I have no interest or intention of interfering in the Government of Guyana elections. This is a sovereign country, you run your election as you see fit. Where we are providing support such as in the election security realm, it was requested and we are responding. How you run your elections, is entirely up to you,” the US Ambassador said.

Mohamed, along with his father, and their businesses were sanctioned by the US Government last year over tax evasion and gold under-declaration claims. He has refuted the allegations, and is now contesting the September 1 General and Regional Elections under his recently formed We Invest in Nationhood party.

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