Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has publicly confirmed that he owns a large-scale agricultural enterprise after rejecting allegations of corruption linked to the development of the property, insisting that the investment was lawfully financed and properly declared.
The controversy erupted after Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed accused the president of using illicit wealth to develop a sprawling agricultural estate along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Mohamed questioned how the investment, which he estimated to be worth billions of Guyana dollars, could have been financed through Ali’s income as a public official.Â
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Responding to the allegations, President Ali acknowledged ownership of the property but firmly denied any wrongdoing. He said the operation is a farm, not a ranch, and explained that he had acquired the property long before becoming president in 2020. He also stated that the investment was financed through commercial bank loans and that all required asset declarations were submitted to the Integrity Commission.
Ali said the agricultural venture includes extensive aquaculture ponds, cattle-rearing facilities, poultry operations, sheep and goat farming, orchards, and the cultivation of various cash crops, describing it as part of his longstanding commitment to agriculture and food security.
“As required by law, the President has made the appropriate declarations to the Integrity Commission. The acquisition of his assets and the source of the funds used to acquire them are capable of verification through the relevant financial and regulatory records,” Ali said in a statement.
The president also rejected suggestions that public resources were used to develop the farm, maintaining that the property has never received preferential treatment or government funding. He added that banking and regulatory records could independently verify the financing of the project.
The dispute has intensified Guyana’s political landscape, with Opposition Leader Mohamed calling for Ali’s resignation and alleging conflicts of interest. Transparency International Guyana has also called for an independent investigation into the matter, citing concerns over public integrity and potential conflicts of interest, while emphasizing that the allegations require impartial examination.
Separately, President Ali accused members of the Mohamed family of attempting to pressure him through private communications related to ongoing legal matters in the United States. Businessman Nazar Mohamed has denied those allegations and challenged the president to release the full text of their communications.
