–points to slew of loans, full disclosure at Integrity Commission; says will not succumb to blackmail from the Mohameds
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has underscored his commitment to practising what he preaches about food security and agriculture, as he fielded questions about recent allegations made by United States–sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed about a farm he owns on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
Pressed about the controversy surrounding the farm, President Ali on Sunday highlighted his own agricultural venture with Guyana’s wider food-security agenda, stressing that his engagement in farming was consistent with his public advocacy.
In remarks shared by ‘Starting Point,’ the President emphasised that his hands-on involvement in agriculture was part of a broader national push to transform food production and improve resilience across the region.
“You see all the excitement in Guyana. You have a President who practises what he preaches. 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,” he said.
He promised to demonstrate his on-the-ground role in farming when he returns home from the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.
Earlier, President Ali had said he would not succumb to blackmail from the Mohamed family.
According to reports, prior to these public allegations regarding his farm, President Ali had received several communications over a period of time concerning the release of information about him if amends were not made.
President Ali had also disclosed that he was in possession of text messages from businessman Nazar Mohamed, who has also been sanctioned by the United States.
According to Dr Ali, Nazar, the older Mohamed, sent messages as early as last week indicating that recordings would be released if amends were not made with him and his son.
The President’s comments came after Azruddin published a 24-minute video, in which he called the Head -of-State a “corrupt President.”
That and the other allegations made by the sanctioned businessman has since been debunked.
According to information that has since been made public, the farm was acquired long before President Ali assumed office. The acquisition of the property predates Dr Ali’s presidency and can be independently verified through banking records and other official documentation.
Additionally, President Ali 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.
Further reports state that the farm has never received any special benefit, preferential treatment, or assistance from the Government of Guyana, either before or after President Ali assumed office. At no point have State funds, public resources, or government assets been used in relation to this investment.
