President Dr Irfaan Ali used a live address on Thursday to reject allegations surrounding his farming investments, describing recent claims that the property had been "discovered" as a deliberate distortion of information he says has long been in the public domain.
"Let me once again be very clear. My farm is not a discovery. It is public information," Ali said. He maintained that the farm's existence had been known for some time, including to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, and said its status could be confirmed through established agricultural bodies.
Ali's defence centred on countering what he called exaggerated claims about the property's scale and worth. He said the farm was "not even half" the size Mohamed had suggested, and that he wished the investment matched even a fraction of the value being circulated. He said the property carries a substantial loan and that every aspect of the financing has been disclosed to the Integrity Commission, both before and during his time in government. "There is absolutely nothing to hide," he said.
The President also addressed suggestions that he had benefited from preferential treatment in securing or maintaining the lease. He said his land on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is governed by the same conditions that apply to every other farmer occupying leased land in the area, and that he had not sought any special arrangement or state benefit. "I have not sought any special treatment, any benefit or any investment by the State," he said.
Ali drew a direct comparison between his own financial position and that of Mohamed, who he said continues to face unresolved matters before the Integrity Commission. He noted that Mohamed's wealth had been accumulated without recourse to loans, in contrast to his own farm, which he said carries traceable, legitimate financing. He went further, referencing US sanctions against Mohamed and a grand jury indictment in America, and questioned the credibility of commentary framing Mohamed as a source on integrity matters.
Alongside the farm allegations, Ali disclosed that he had received what he described as attempts at intimidation. He said that as recently as last Friday he had been sent a text message telling him to "end all this madness", along with an audio recording involving another individual whose contents he said he could not verify. "I know nothing about it, absolutely nothing about it," he said, adding that some material sent to him appeared to carry security implications while other material seemed intended to stir political controversy.
The President rejected any suggestion that his government bore responsibility for the legal difficulties facing Mohamed, stating plainly that the sanctions and charges originated with US authorities rather than his administration. "These charges and sanctions did not come from Irfaan Ali. They did not come from the PPP/C Government. They came from the United States of America, and I have a duty and responsibility," he said.
Despite the controversy, Ali said he remained proud of his agricultural work and intended to use the farm as a platform to inform the public about modern farming methods. He said he planned to conduct live broadcasts from the property in the coming weeks to let people see its operations directly. "I want people to learn. I want people to see directly from me the misrepresentation, the mischief, the deception and the lies," he stated.
He closed by reaffirming that his government would remain focused on its responsibilities to the country rather than on what he termed political sideshows. "I'm not interested in the sideshows and the distractions," Ali said, adding that his administration would continue working for the people of Guyana.