Hana Mohamed, sister of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, has pushed back against criticism surrounding her younger sister Hadiyyah Mohamed’s entry into the National Assembly, accusing the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of hypocrisy over the involvement of relatives in politics and public life.
Hadiyyah Mohamed, 24, is set to take the oath of office as a We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Member of Parliament today, replacing former parliamentarian Dr. Andre Lewis. Her entry into the National Assembly will make her Guyana’s youngest sitting MP.
Responding to the political attention surrounding her sister’s elevation, Hana Mohamed argued that family involvement in politics was neither new nor unique to WIN, pointing to several past and present PPP/C figures whose relatives have also served in politics, government and public institutions.
“Since the PPP wants to make family relationships a political issue, perhaps we should begin by examining its own history,” Mohamed stated.
She highlighted several prominent political families, including former Presidents Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan; former President Donald Ramotar and his children; former minister Reepu Daman Persaud and his daughter, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud; and former Attorney General Charles Ramson Sr. and his son, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr.
Mohamed also pointed to other familial relationships involving current and former PPP/C officials, including Attorney General Anil Nandlall and his brother Kesh Nandlall; Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and his wife Dr. Shanti Singh-Anthony; Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and his wife Gitanjali Singh; as well as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and members of his extended family.
She also referenced the families of former government official Hydar Ally, former Minister Clement Rohee, former Presidential Secretariat Head Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and former minister Robeson Benn, among others.
Mohamed argued that the examples demonstrate that relatives participating in politics or holding public positions is not, by itself, unusual in Guyana.
“Family involvement in politics is nothing new in Guyana. It has existed across generations, administrations and political parties,” she stated.
However, she contended that the real issue was what she described as a double standard in the scrutiny being placed on her family following Hadiyyah Mohamed’s selection to Parliament.
“The issue has never been family involvement in politics. It is the staggering hypocrisy of a political party that has built generations of political influence through its own family connections, yet suddenly finds those same relationships objectionable when they involve the Opposition,” Mohamed argued.
“You cannot condemn in others what you have practised, defended and benefited from for decades. The standards you demand of your political opponents must first be applied to yourselves,” she added.
