Rodrigues rejects WIN’s corruption allegations over Florida house purchase

While she dismissed claims that she owns three properties based on addresses that Mr Mohamed used to link them to her, Ms Rodrigues admitted that the third address, 8601 NW 46th Ct. Lauderhill, FL is for a property owned by a company in which she has shares.

The minister did not name that company.

She did not say whether Mr Mohamed’s claim that the house was purchased on March 11, 2024 for US$540,000 was accurate, but posted an annual tax and interest statement showing that as of December 31, 2024, there was an outstanding mortgage principal of US$378,000.

“This property was in fact purchased with a mortgage from a US Financial Institution, AD Mortgage. As evidence, I have attached my annual tax and interest statement for 2024 showing the date and value of the mortgage. The property is rented, and the mortgage is being serviced by the rental income,” she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday in response to Mr Mohamed’s claims.

Her statement also came one day after the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) piggybacked on the WIN leader’s allegations.

The 12-seat APNU called for her to resign and make way for a full, independent investigation. “The evidence now circulating about Minister Susan Rodrigues raises grave questions about integrity, unexplained wealth, and abuse of public office. Public office is a public trust, and no one is above scrutiny,” APNU said.

WIN also called on ministers Rodrigues and Mustapha to resign immediately to allow for full, independent investigations into the sources of their wealth. “Should they fail to act, the responsibility falls squarely on President Irfaan Ali to remove them from office for the greater good of the country, restore public confidence, and demonstrate that no one is above the law,” WIN said.

WIN, which has 16 seats in the National Assembly, criticised the governing People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) “top brass” for remaining silent in the face of the allegations while championing transparency and accountability. That party also questioned how anti-money laundering laws appeared ineffective “when senior officials can splurge on luxury properties, cars, and land without consequence.”

Mr Mohamed has in recent weeks targeted her and agriculture minister Zulfikar Mustapha, as well as his son, about seeming inexplicable wealth reflected in large properties that they own. Mr Mustapha has denied Mr Mohamed’s allegations, saying he borrowed money from the bank to build a luxury house while his son built his from business success.

She also denied Mr Mohamed’s claim that she owns a property situated at 946 Herstelling where she currently resides. In that regard, she posted a picture of the land ownership in the name of her partner, Denisha Bobb, dating back to 2016, “long before I entered government.” No reference was made to the ownership of the building on the land.

In response to Mr Mohamed’s assertion that she acquired a gas station at 224 Camp and New Market streets, Georgetown, Ms Rodrigues stated categorically that “this is also not true” and went on to say that Ms Bobb is the operator of that business.

She noted that the gas station has been owned by Shell Antilles and Guianas Limited since 1962 and “never changed ownership”. “The transport for this property is part of the public record and can be easily verified. My partner is the operator of this establishment. We do not own any of the assets on that property,” she said.

Concerning the two other addresses in Miramar, Florida, Ms Rodrigues said one is the home address of the realtor who temporarily allowed her to use it as her mailing address, and the other is the property of Guyana’s Honorary Consul to Florida.