Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has made allegations against President Irfaan Ali, claiming that a GY$2.2 billion investment in a ranch off the Linden-Soesdyke Highway is tainted by corruption. President Ali has strongly denied these accusations, asserting that he borrowed funds from the banking system to finance his agricultural activities.
In response to the allegations, Dr. Ali emphasized that he has owned a farm prior to his election as President in 2020. He stated, “As most people are aware, I do not have a ranch. I have a farm that I have had long before I am President.” He also dismissed suggestions from Mr. Mohamed that he has exploited his presidential position to construct a GY$75 million road and gain advantages in agricultural production.
Mr. Mohamed released a 24-minute video on his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, which included images of the buildings on the property. He claimed that a new road has been constructed leading to the President’s estimated GY$150-acre agricultural estate, which features an electricity transmission network valued at GY$55 million. He pointed out that residents of nearby St. Cuthbert’s Mission have historically received limited electricity, while the President’s estate is fully powered.
Mr. Mohamed estimated that Dr. Ali could earn significant revenue from various agricultural products, including poultry and livestock. He presented images of the estate’s infrastructure, including poultry houses and residential quarters for workers. He also mentioned a two-storey concrete ranch house with recreational amenities valued at GY$165 million, highlighting the disparity between the President’s wealth and the housing situation of many Guyanese.
In his remarks, Mr. Mohamed called on the business community to recognize what he perceives as the President’s accumulation of wealth while soliciting financial support for events. President Ali refuted these claims, asserting that all his assets have been declared to the Integrity Commission and that there is no state involvement in his agricultural endeavors.
Dr. Ali stated, “There is absolutely no State involvement or no State financing for any single thing on my farm.” He reiterated that his investments are verifiable through the financial system and labeled the accusations as false. He also accused the Mohamed family of attempting to blackmail him and described the allegations as part of a broader agenda against him.
Additionally, Dr. Ali reported that there have been sightings of a drone over his farm, which he has reported to the police. He indicated that he has not pursued the matter further, as law enforcement is handling the investigation. The relationship between the President and the Mohamed family has been historically close, dating back to Dr. Ali’s school days, prior to the imposition of U.S. sanctions on the Mohameds in June 2024.
Source: demerarawaves.com
