PLEASE allow me to share my view and knowledge in response to the front page article of Kaieteur News on Sunday January 1, 2012. One would expect that at the commencement of a new year any media house will publish stories that are factual and what can stand up to scrutiny, since it will reflect what to expect in time to come.
Nevertheless, Kaieteur News has decided that it will continue along the path of falsehood and distortions in its effort to downgrade the government, its ministers and its agencies, because it will help the publication’s agenda.
It is no secret, but a well known fact that Mr Irfaan Ali had acquired a plot of land (about ¾ acres), on which stood, and still stands a wooden, two-storey house called ‘The Guysuco Guest House’ at Sea Spray, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
This, he acquired through a tender process for a price of eight million Guyana dollars over four years ago.
Source: Kaieteur News, Guyana Chronicle, Stabroek News (some four years ago).
At the time the building needed some renovation and repainting, which were done over the years at no exorbitant cost. Along with this a swimming pool and pool house is in its construction phase. I am no architect or engineer, but I do have a fairly good idea about estimates. My estimation puts the total cost so far at about one tenth of Kaieteur News’ ‘super inflated’ cost of  three  hundred million dollars, which is totally obnoxious, since the house that was photographed and published was not constructed by Irfaan Ali.
As for those who want to question Mr Irfaan’s financial standing, I would like to inform them of the following:-.
Mr Irfaan Ali is the great grand of one Mr.Dos Mohamed, who was in his time a very rich and well established business entrepreneur in colonial days. Irfaan’s parents are both intellectuals, who are earning high salaries from their employ and other sources, thus they continue to this day to spend lavishly, in fulfilling all of Irfaan’s maintenance. It is what they want to do to show their appreciation for a son that has made them proud.
So, Irfaan has been saving all his earnings during his working career which started long before he became a Minister of Government.
Thus I am not surprised to see today, that Mr Irfaan is spending whatever he had earned and saved to realise his dream.
I would like to use this opportunity to encourage the youths in my community to follow in the footsteps of this distinguished son of the Leonora, so that they too can make a contribution to better their lives and the lives of those around them.
In conclusion, I wish my friends, Minister Irfaan, President Donald Ramotar and all the other members of the Cabinet a very productive and successful 2012 and also that their term in office be of significant progress and benefit to all Guyanese.

EDITOR’S NOTE:
This letter which has been sent to our Editorial office is countersigned by 63 other residents of Leonora.