It is appropriate that the fullest attention and resources are devoted to meeting the needs of the families of those who died when the MV Barima capsized on July 18, the traumatized survivors and their relatives and those who are still searching for loved ones who are believed to have perished but whose bodies have not been found. The refloating of the ferry and the initiation of the Commission of Inquiry into the disaster must also be focused on.
However, there are many other issues that have to be addressed contemporaneously without the suggestion that there is a diminution of interest in the caring for those who have been left bereft by this horrific ferry tragedy. One of those issues, of course, is the President’s farm at Long Creek,
After an initial burst of interest in the acreage, the farm has slid under the radar as the entire country has been transfixed by the horror of the capsizing. However, life continues in many other spheres and therefore the President must know that the same way his government is seeking to make three employees of the T&HD accountable for the deaths on board the vessel he has to be similarly accountable for the acreage he acquired and its transformation.
When Kiskadee Watch last addressed this matter, the President had maintained an unusual silence after a burst of energy from St Lucia where he had promised to organize a visit to the farm, the nature of which remains unknown today. When he returned to the country from Castries he launched a tirade against the Leader of the Opposition who had brought the farm to public notice on July 5th. The President also declared that everything to do with the farm was above board and that a huge loan had helped him to secure and run the farm. There was no further word then about the famous promise to tour the farm and the President must know that his statements have to be interrogated.
In recent days, the President has been taken up with the ferry tragedy having spent time with relatives of the deceased in Port Kaituma and composing the Commission of Inquiry and related matters.
However, he said not a word to assuage the concerns raised about the commingling of his private business with his functions as President, Head of State and other capacities. He must now begin to find time to address in his personal capacity and as President the numerous questions that have been posed about the farm, questions that speak to whether standards of good governance and respect for the rule of law have been observed. One expects that the relevant sectoral committees of Parliament will also exercise their minds as to how they can contribute to broadening the information on the farm and the questions of propriety that abound.
Many of the questions raised in the July 9th editorial of Kiskadee Watch remain relevant.
-When did Mr Ali acquire the acreage that is the subject of scrutiny, what is its size and was it all acquired in one transaction?
-Did he acquire acreage when he was Minister of Housing and if so, did that not pose a conflict of interest?
-What was the price of the land, how was it valued and how was it paid for? Was any bank involved in the purchase?
-When did development of the land begin?
-Was a plan lodged with the Environmental Protection Agency and the relevant local government body? Was there a requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment and if so was one done or waived?
-Was permission sought for development of a man-made lake utilising a public water course?
-What was the scale of development of the site prior to 2020? What precisely was developed at the site since August of 2020?
-Upon becoming President in 2020 what steps were taken to prevent commingling of public duties with private interests as it relates to the farm?
-Are all services provided to the farm fully paid for and at market rates?
-Were the livestock purchased from a public authority?
-Which agency provides veterinary services to the farm?
-Are goods from the farm sold on the open market?
-Have electrical installations been provided by GPL and if so when was this application for services made?
-What is the running cost to operate this farm and how is this expense met?
-How much time Mr President are you devoting to the running of this farm on a weekly basis?
-What is the total investment to date in the farm?
The President’s silence on these matters has been mirrored by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and the Guyana Power and Light. As public agencies they are obliged to be open to scrutiny.
We call on the President to provide answers to the questions that have been raised about his farm. We repeat that his failure to do so will undermine the foundation of the presidency and call into question his own respect for good governance and the rule of law.
Discussion