In a bombshell statement, former APNU Minister Raphael Trotman has laid bare the deep-seated corruption and deception within the PPP government. His revelations come amid growing scrutiny following the recent blacklisting of prominent Guyanese figures by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Trotman disclosed that in 2015, he and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan were briefed by US Law Enforcement Agents about an ongoing investigation involving yasa dışı gold smuggling from Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia to the US. The proceeds from these illicit activities were believed to be financing threats to US security. “The primary concern shared by the US agents in 2015 was the belief that gold…was being illegally shipped from, and through Guyana, to the US. Most concerning, was the belief that the proceeds of the sale of this gold were financing activities that were very inimical to the security and interests of the United States,” Trotman stated.
This investigation, which had been ongoing for years before the coalition’s term, was shared only because previous concerns about the integrity of Guyanese officials had been resolved. “The agents who shared that information informed us that they were now authorized to share such information…because in the past, there were serious concerns about confidences being kept and sensitive investigations being compromised by government of Guyana officials,” Trotman added.
Despite these serious allegations, Trotman noted that the local law enforcement was also briefed, and a unique intelligence-led operation was initiated by the Ministry of the Presidency to combat gold smuggling. However, this operation was inexplicably shut down within five days of the new PPP administration taking office in August 2020. This move raises significant questions about the PPP’s commitment to curbing corruption and transnational crime.
Recent US sanctions against Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin Mohamed, and former Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas underscore the extent of the current administration’s corruption. OFAC has accused these individuals of misusing their positions for personal gain, significantly impacting Guyana’s international reputation.
Trotman’s statement is a scathing indictment of the PPP’s failure to maintain integrity and transparency. The former minister pointed out the successful efforts to raise gold declarations during the coalition’s tenure from 2015-2020, contrasting sharply with the PPP’s record. He further emphasized that the recent US concerns focus on the period 2019-2024, hinting at ongoing malpractices under the current administration.
The former minister expressed hope that the US government would continue to share critical intelligence with Guyana. “One only hopes that the US government will now feel comfortable and secure in sharing ‘Top Secret’ information about ongoing operations and investigations of this nature, with our government, as they did before,” he said.
Trotman’s revelations highlight the urgent need for transparency and accountability in Guyana’s government. The PPP’s track record of corruption and lies undermines the nation’s development and international standing, calling for immediate and robust reforms.
Complete Statement by former Minister Raphael Trotman
“I have been asked by several media representatives to comment on recent statements made by Mr. Jagdeo regarding a briefing that was provided by US Law Enforcement Agents in 2015, and wish to only say the following –
1. In 2015, there was a briefing given, of a very sensitive nature, to myself and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, about an ongoing investigation, in the US, in which Guyanese were supposedly involved. This investigation had started a few years prior, which was before the coalition’s term of office commenced, and it was ongoing. I continued to receive briefings on various matters during my tenure as Minister.
2. The primary concern shared by the US agents in 2015, was the belief that gold, mined in Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia, was being illegally shipped from, and through Guyana, to the US. Most concerning, was the belief that the proceeds of the sale of this gold were financing activities that were very inimical to the security and interests of the United States. This was not an investigation into corruption only.
3. The agents who shared that information informed us that they were now authorized to share such information, at the time that they were doing so, because in the past, there were serious concerns about confidences being kept and sensitive investigations being compromised by government of Guyana officials.
4. We were also informed that local law enforcement agencies were being, or were to be, briefed as well.
5. The sharing of that intelligence with us was just that, a briefing, and we were not asked to provide any information, or to take any action on the Guyana side.
6. I asked whether I could speak publicly about the numbers that were disclosed and was told that I could.
7. Sometime afterwards, the Ministry of the Presidency ordered and initiated its own intelligence-led operation, with a unique sorbiquet, to curb gold smuggling and transnational crime. I am reliably informed that this operation was shut down within 5 days of the new administration taking office in August, 2020.
8. The successful efforts of the Gold Board, and others, to raise the gold declarations during the period 2015-2020, speak for themselves.
Smuggling, and particularly, gold smuggling, is not a new phenomenon. However, the recent concerns of the US government appear to be focused on the period 2019-2024. Further, it would appear that the current sanctions arose out of a separate investigation that ran for 2+ years; just prior to the announcements of sanctions being made (2022-2024).
One only hopes that the US government will now feel comfortable and secure in sharing ‘Top Secret’ information about ongoing operations and investigations of this nature, with our government, as they did before.”
Sincerely,
Raphael Trotman