Last Updated on Sunday, 11 January 2026, 22:13 by Writer
President Irfaan Ali says he has accepted Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues’ explanation about her assets, amid wide-ranging concerns about how she was able to purchase a property in Florida for more than US$500,000.
“The minister has demonstrated. I have no question when the minister has demonstrated. Allegations are always made,” he told reporters on Saturday.
The opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) had also raised concerns about her acquisition of land in Guyana, alleging that she had benefitted from proceeds of corruption.
Ms Rodrigues has denied those allegations, saying that they were aimed at sullying her character.
Dr Ali, for his part, said Ms Rodrigues had “made it very clear” that she could account for “whatever she owns”. “The minister has made it very clear and has demonstrated her source of financing for her assets,” he said
He said she also shared the information with the public and all members of his administration had submitted their assets to the Integrity Commission. He said that was unlike the opposition but “there was no activism” by anyone.
WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed had called on Ms Rodrigues to account for her purchase of a property in Florida on her ministerial salary, prompting her to divulge that she obtained a mortgage and rented the property to repay the loan.
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 had said in a Facebook post on Tuesday in response to Mr Mohamed’s claims.
Discover more from Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
