Dear Editor,
First off, congratulations on the enormous achievement of establishing this news and information platform. The creation of more independent media voices is important for Guyana, as it encourages a wider range of perspectives, strengthens public debate, and ultimately makes our civic discourse richer and better informed.
President Irfaan Ali has now revealed, in a broad and public way, that he is indeed the owner of the farm located at Long Creek—something he should have done long ago. However, many within the private sector, particularly those involved in agriculture and food services, myself included, have done business with the President’s farm, either directly or indirectly.
Irfaan is the most entrepreneurially minded President we have ever seen. We saw this in the way he managed public institutions such as the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Housing, as well as in the initiatives he has pursued since becoming President. These include his push for our local private sector to adopt consortium models to benefit from economies of scale, and the establishment of the development bank. It should therefore not come as much of a surprise that he has also been involved in private-sector initiatives.
He has to be given the benefit of the doubt, and one cannot simply assume wrongdoing. If the property was lawfully acquired, financed through legitimate means, properly declared, and developed without any improper state benefit, then the President has the same right as any other Guyanese to own property and invest in a productive business.
That does not mean questions should not be asked. Any public official should be prepared to account for the acquisition of major assets, explain the source of financing, and comply with all disclosure requirements to the relevant agencies. That is part of holding public office.