Pres. Ali confirms ownership of massive aquaculture, cattle rearing, poultry, orchard and other cash crops farms

Jul 06, 2026 News

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…as opposition leader alleges corruption

By Khadidja Ba

(Kaieteur News) – Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed has publicly accused President Irfaan Ali of massive state-fueled corruption, alleging the rapid development of a luxury 150-acre private estate and ranch investment valued at more than GUY $2.2 billion.

In a video published on his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, the opposition leader said the “mind-boggling 150-acre ranch investment amounting to more than $2.2 billion” was “developed in just three years after becoming president of Guyana in 2020,” and could “never” be substantiated by a presidential salary of $3.7 million per month.

In a counter-offensive, President Ali hit back almost immediately by posting a privately owned Newsroom article on his official Facebook page, refuting the claims as a “contrived story concerning his farm” and detailing his asset declarations. Ali also stated that “he is in possession of text messages received from the Senior Mohamed, including messages sent as recently as this week, which he (Mohamed) says recordings would be released if amends were not made between the president and the Mohamed family. The president said this implied the government’s easing of extradition proceedings requested by the USA. The president said those communications and their contents are capable of examination and speak for themselves, adding that he is willing to make them public.”

In his video presentation, Mohamed detailed a massive infrastructure breakdown of the estate, standing directly on what he identified as President Ali’s private entry road. Mohamed stated, “I am standing on President Irfan’s entry road, a 2.2-kilometer road in length and 17 feet in width that has a designated fleet of heavy machinery to maintain his private road leading to his ranch.”

He contrasted this with local geography, noting that “most farmers along this highway would use an existing trail road that is about seven feet wide, but Irfan’s road is drastically wider to accommodate big trucks from Brazil.” He claimed that “there was and still is a trail road leading to his ranch, but it is not of his standard as he wanted a straight, clean, beautiful landscape leading to his luxury estate.” Mohamed called the president selfish for building his own massive road.

“This man is so selfish, he decided to make his own massive road leading into his luxurious ranch. It is so smooth that even the Lamborghini could blaze this road.” He cited engineering estimates placing the cost of the road alone at approximately $75 million, adding, “Mind you, this is a conservative figure, not the overpriced figure the PPP and their contractor friends quote to build roads, while communities throughout the country don’t even have a proper loom road.”

Mohamed said the entire 150 acres was all forested land, with land developer estimates placing the cost of “clearing this massive ranch alone, leveling, and hauling away everything costs no less than $300 million.”

Mohamed then shifted his focus to the electrical infrastructure built to power the facility, revealing it required a significant investment including 70 lantern posts and 210 high voltage isolators. He detailed that “there are roughly 6,600 meters of electrical distribution lines running throughout the estate from the Linden-Soesdyke Highway to the facility,” along with at least two transformers, including both pole-mounted and pad-mounted varieties. Mohamed claimed “these very transformers can comfortably provide electricity for approximately 500 average homes,” bringing the total cost for the entire electrical infrastructure, including installation and labor, to approximately 55 million Guyana dollars. He labeled this situation inhumane, highlighting that “the residents in one of the closest villages to Irfan’s estate, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, have for decades received electricity for only four hours a day, while Irfan is powering his estate for his black-bellied sheep and Brazilian cows.” He added, “In fact, I have been informed that the generator in St. Cuthbert’s Mission is currently down. So many housing schemes across Guyana is to this day without electricity. This is inhumane.”

Describing the farming and ranching operation as something never before seen, Mohamed detailed two large, state-of-the-art poultry tunnel houses equipped with fully automatic silos to ensure 80,000 chickens are fed continuously to reduce labour requirements. He explained that “each modern ventilated tunnel house is equipped with galvanised insulated roofing and large exhaust fans to reduce heat absorption and ensure that the birds are cool and comfortable.” Citing agricultural engineer estimates and Minister Mustapha, Mohamed stated these two poultry houses cost approximately $340 million, though he noted “the government built a similar poultry house in Onverwagt for $170 million. And also, the government is making a contribution to that. So, the total cost for this entire tunnel house will cost approximately $170 million.”

He then broke down the economics of the flock itself, stating that “the cost to buy 80,000 chicks with feed is around $80 million,” specifically calculating that “a $230 per chick multiplied by 80,000 chicks, that is $18.4 million. Coupled with feed for one crop at $7,200 per bag costs an additional $57.6 million. That is a total of $76 million the president has invested in his personal chicken farm.” Mohamed stated that “at the market price of $400 a pound for a five-pound chicken for his farm of 80,000 chickens, he is slated to make $160 million. Therefore, his profit every six weeks is $160 minus his $76 million investment, which leaves him with a whopping $84 million profit. Can you imagine that?”

The video exposé continued into the estate’s cattle investment, where Mohamed showed a massive cattle house, he says was constructed by President Ali that can comfortably accommodate 500 Brazilian cows. He noted the structure features multiple holding quarters, feeding areas, a pathway to the pasture built with timber to withstand the herds, and a galvanised steel roof, which he says agricultural engineers estimate the cost of the cattle house at approximately $40 million. Mohamed stated “currently, there are 200 cows reared at the ranch,” valued at $64 million Guyana dollars, adding that “everyday truckloads of antelope grass come directly to the ranch to feed the cattle” and that “Irfan has his designated tractor and trailer costing $15 million to transport the grass.” He noted that “at $800 per pound wholesale with 400 pounds per cow average and 200 cows currently reared, President Irfan’s cows are worth $64 million.” Mohamed sharply criticised the administration by stating that “while his estate has properly irrigated pastures for his cows with antelope grass shuttled in, our local cattle farmers have to endure significant losses of their cattle, droned in with no intervention from the government.”

Mohamed then claimed to have located the missing black-bellied sheep on President Ali’s ranch, showing a flock of approximately 200 sheep of various ages, breeds, and stages housed in an elevated structure with multiple quarters that costs approximately 10 million Guyana dollars. He described the infrastructure as “built with intention, a wide central walkway runs through the middle, giving workers easy access to each quarter for feeding, watering and inspections,” as well as “raised slated wooden floors allow the manure and urine to fall through the gaps below to keep the pens drier, reduce disease risk and reduce labor for cleaning.” Valuing the 200 sheep at approximately 18 million Guyana dollars based on an average live weight of 90 pounds per sheep and 1,000 Guyana dollars per pound, Mohamed grumbled that “while Irfan and Zulfi are giving our local sheep farmers one more ram. The president has 200 alone here and just imagine how many were already sold. That is putting people first.”

Moving on to the rest of the livestock, Mohamed highlighted a goat herd containing approximately 50 goats housed in quarters worth approximately $3 million, with the goats themselves valued at an additional $3 million based on an average live weight of 70 pounds per goat and 1,000 Guyana dollars per pound. Neighboring the goat quarters, he pointed out the Black Giant pen housed in a long poultry shelter that cost approximately $3 million to construct, containing around 500 black giants worth $1.2 million. Mohamed also pointed out a thriving duck business featuring a shelter worth about $3 million.

The video then showcased the main residential ranch house, which Mohamed described as “a main residential ranch house, a substantial two-story concrete home which President Ali uses for his leisure time for probably just a few times a year. Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of Guyanese who still don’t have a place to call home.” He noted the luxurious vacation home is fully air-conditioned with a wraparound terrace and decorative railings, and features an adjacent recreational entertainment area with a swimming pool, paved pool deck, gazebo, and an outdoor kitchen to cook the casserole cook-up. Mohamed explained that “the panoramic views overlooking the calm fresh water creek provide a stunning backdrop for the two benabs, creating a picturesque and tranquil setting,” with the entire retreat home, pool, gazebo, entertainment area, and two benabs estimated at approximately 165 million Guyana dollars. Mohamed declared.

“Now I want to show you just how your taxpayer money is being squandered by the president simply for his own personal enjoyment and fun. Guyanese, have a look at President Irfan’s very own man-made circuit creek. Have a look at what your president did to this massive rainforest at the mouth of his private creek.” Showing a Google Map image of the area as still not developed, he highlighted the transformation from untouched rainforest to President Ali’s own personal kayaking circuit costing $60 million dollars, comparing the massive size of the creek to the reality of Guyanese citizens waiting decades for a basic 40 by 80 house lot.

In addition to freshwater recreation, Mohamed detailed an investment in Tambaqui, one of the most expensive Brazilian freshwater fish in the Amazon, which is becoming popular in Guyana for its rapid growth and sustainability.

He said, “President Ali has received the best fiscal advice to utilise the technologically advanced systems and guidance from agricultural experts and economists to ensure that every single one of his livestock, agriculture and aquaculture investments gives him a massive turnover, a billionaire overnight.”

The aquaculture facility features two large circular rings acting as commercial cage systems alongside infrastructure including earthworks, canal excavation, solar-powered aeration, pumping equipment, fish stock, Tambaqui fingerlings, feed installation, anchoring, and water control infrastructure. Mohamed noted that “two cages of that size and magnitude can hold 20,000 to 40,000 fish with high density production of up to 50,000 to 75,000 fish each ring,” adding that this fish is enjoyed by many at thousands of Guyana dollars per pound.

Surrounding these cages are several engineered earthen ponds with water control canals and embankments to farm Hassa fish, bringing the total aquaculture infrastructure cost to approximately 50 million dollars, a conservative estimate that excludes the millions of dollars in actual Tambaqui and Hassa fish stock.

The centerpiece of the estate, according to Mohamed, is a series of nine long-span, modern tunnel greenhouses and parallel hydroponic farms arranged in organised rows for extensive agricultural production. These climate-controlled facilities support high-value crops, vegetables, and plant nurseries, and include irrigation systems, internal crop benches, trellises, and covered feeding and service areas for workers and equipment, valued at 150 million dollars. Mohamed stated, “I hope the Guyanese people and our local cash crop farmers are paying keen attention to how the president is living like a Maharaja while they are struggling with harsh conditions of their crops.” Furthermore, the estate features seven shade houses for garden landscaping and exotic Brazilian plants, costing 5 million dollars per shade house for a total of 35 million dollars. Mohamed claimed “Irfan’s shade houses are much more sophisticated and technologically advanced as compared to this shed Minister Zulfikar gave the Kurukuru community, an impoverished community just 15 minutes away,” valuing the seven shade houses and exotic Brazilian plants together at least 50 million dollars.

Mohamed then detailed President Ali’s private orchard and citrus production, pointing out a grid-like pattern of thousands of young fruit trees established on raised mounds with cleared basins around the base to improve drainage. The commercial operation includes pineapple, orange, tangerine, lemon, lime, dragon fruit, katahar, breadfruit, banana, plantain, and many other varieties. Covering approximately 40 acres, Mohamed stated the scale of the operation required extensive site preparation over the past two to three years, including forest clearing, land grading, soil improvement, field surveying, irrigation, fertilisation, weed control, pest management, pruning, and maintenance, costing no less than 250 million dollars. Mohamed emphasised, “I want Guyanese to understand that I’m not like the PPP who will inflate numbers for their gain. Each of these numbers, including this 250-million-dollar investment for just citrus, is an extremely low estimate. You would have to have a lot more than 19 fraud charges to accumulate the immense capital to fund this project. It would take a regular farmer generations to fund an investment of this magnitude. Generations.”

To irrigate the massive estate ranch, orchard, fields, seven shade houses, nine greenhouses, aquaculture facilities, and livestock operations, Mohamed stated that a constant and reliable source of water was required. He detailed the construction of a massive well and irrigation system costing 30 million dollars, which includes 40 black tanks sprinkled around the property and the required plumbing to run pipes throughout the entire estate, bringing the total cost for water infrastructure to 45 million dollars. He also detailed a fleet of heavy machinery purchased specifically for the estate’s development, heavy lifting, and maintenance, which includes three excavators, a roller, a dump truck, and a grader, additionally supplemented by multiple cars, bikes, quads, canters, a camper, and boats, totaling an estimated 150 million dollars.

Architecturally, the property also contains nearly a dozen permanent residences as living quarters to accommodate the full-time on-site workforce, including newly constructed concrete homes with steel roofs built to comfortably accommodate full-time on-site managers, supervisors, farmers, and labourers, conservatively valued at approximately 60 million dollars. Mohamed called the additional payroll cost to employ this workforce “unbelievable”, noting it includes full-time veterinarians, farm managers, equipment and heavy machinery operators, livestock attendants, greenhouse workers, security personnel, maintenance staff, and general labourers. He stated, “Even using a very conservative estimate of just 50 farm workers earning an average of 100,000 per month, the monthly payroll alone would be approximately 5 million dollars. Over a three-year period, that amounts to approximately 180 million dollars in wages. That is leaving out security.” Finally, Mohamed detailed an extensive perimeter security fence stretching for several kilometers along the ranch to enclose the poultry facilities, livestock barns, aquaculture ponds, orchards, buildings, and internal roadways. He noted that constructing a secure perimeter of this size requires thousands of feet of fencing materials, treated fence posts, high tensile wire or chain link mesh, hardware, labour, land clearing, and ongoing maintenance, representing a capital investment of at least 50 million dollars based on comparable materials sold in Guyana.

In direct response to the heavy accusations, President Ali utilised his official Facebook page to post a Newsroom story containing a rebuttal to dismantle what he termed a contrived story concerning his farm. According to Newsroom, “President Ali acquired the farm long before assuming the office of president. The acquisition of the property predates his presidency and can be independently verified through banking records and other official documentation.” Secondly, the statement noted that “as required by law, the president has made the appropriate declarations to the integrity commission. The acquisition of his assets and the source of the funds used to acquire them could be verified through the relevant financial and regulatory records.” Thirdly, the response asserted that “it is well known, both within Guyana and internationally, that President Ali has a longstanding passion for agriculture and farming. His interest in the sector did not begin with his presidency but has existed for many years. He is widely recognised for his hands-on approach to farming and for championing innovation and modern agricultural practices. As president, he has also been a leading advocate for Guyana’s food-security agenda and regional food-security initiatives.” The statement also declared 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.”

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• Azruddin Mohamed, blackmail, corruption, luxury farm, President Irfaan Ali

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