– amid questionable academic credentials; fraud allegations
Former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali has emerged as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential candidate following a Central Committee meeting earlier today. Ali, who served as a former Minister of Housing, Water and Tourism under the PPP/C, was elected by the majority of the 35-member Committee by way of secret ballot.
His election comes at a time when he is being accused of academic fraud. It is alleged that he used a fake transcript to pursue a master’s degree programme at an Indian University. But this is just the tip of the iceberg – Ali has been accused of defrauding the State of some $174M for his role in the notorious Pradoville land-sale scandal. The case is before the court.
The ex-minister was slapped with 19 counts of fraud last November and the charges were laid indictable. The charges read that between 2010 and 2015, Ali conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government of Guyana when he acted recklessly in presenting the value of 19 plots of state land situated at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, and sold the said lands at a grossly undervalued price without first obtaining a valuation to determine their true value.
In a statement following the elections, the PPP/C said a two month internal electoral process ended with the Central Committee electing Mohammed Irfaan Ali as the party’s Presidential Candidate for the next National and Regional Elections.
Four other candidates had vied for the post alongside Ali. Those candidates were Anil Nandlall, Dr Frank Anthony, Dr Vindhya Persaud, and Gail Teixeira.
“Immediately prior to the elections Dr. Frank Anthony, Dr. Vindhya Persaud and Gail Teixeira withdrew from the contest leaving Nandlall and Ali as the two contestants. Ali received 24 votes and Nandlall received 11 votes from the 35 Member Central Committee thereby making Ali the Presidential Candidate,” PPP/C explained.
The 38 year old Ali has been a member of the PPP for over 20 years and a part of the leadership for 15 years where he held the position of Finance Secretary for several years. He served in the Cabinet for 7 years.
“The party wishes to assure that despite a most rigorous and competitive campaign, the party remains united and stands firmly behind the Presidential Candidate and pledges to work fervently to deliver victory at the polls as we continue to struggle for a better Guyana,” PPP said. But though PPP is confident of a win with Ali at the helm, the party is already facing a mountain of criticism over its decision to elect the embattled politician as its Presidential Candidate. For some, he simply has a lot of baggage.
