President Dr. Irfaan Ali says he will take the public on a live tour of his farm when he returns to Guyana, even as U.S.-sanctioned Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed calls for the President’s resignation over the President’s private agricultural property.
In a video posted while he was overseas attending a Heads of Government meeting, President Ali said he would visit the farm live upon his return and show Guyanese the agricultural work being done there.
“When I come back home, we’re going to go to the farm live, and you will see how to do agriculture, and you will see all that we do there,” Ali said, adding that viewers would be able to see “great techniques” being used.
The President’s comments come amid a growing political row over his ownership of the property, which Mohamed has described as a luxury ranch estate in Long Creek.
In a follow-up post on Facebook, Mohamed called for Ali’s immediate resignation, claiming the President had confirmed ownership of what he alleged is a 150-acre estate valued at more than $5 billion, based on current land values along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
Mohamed further alleged that the property was developed after Ali assumed office in 2020 and questioned how the President, whom he described as a lifelong public servant, could afford such an investment.
He also accused Ali of being “corrupt and selfish” and claimed the proposed Former Presidents benefits legislation would allow the President, after leaving office, to benefit from state-funded utilities, security, staff and other facilities.
President Ali has strongly rejected the allegations, insisting that the property is a farm, not a ranch, and that he acquired it long before becoming President. He has said the acquisition can be verified through banking records and other official documents.
Ali has also maintained that he made the required declarations to the Integrity Commission and that the source of funds used to acquire his assets can be checked through the relevant legal, financial and regulatory channels.
The President has denied that the farm received any special treatment, government assistance, state funds, public resources or preferential access before or after he assumed office.
He has also linked the recent allegations to what he described as attempts by the Mohamed family to pressure him and his government over ongoing extradition proceedings requested by the United States.
Ali has claimed that he received communications from the senior Mohamed suggesting that recordings or information about him would be released if “amends” were not made. The President said he interpreted those messages as an attempt to have the government ease its handling of the U.S.-requested extradition matter.
The President said he is in possession of the messages and is prepared to make them public.
“I will not succumb to blackmail,” Ali said, while describing the latest allegations surrounding his farm as part of a series of “contrived” stories.
