Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Gerald Gouveia Jr. said he has seen no evidence of wrongdoing in relation to President Irfaan Ali’s controversial farm, describing it as a “model farm” that effectively integrates various aspects of agriculture in a single location.
“It seems to be quite a model farm in terms of using every aspect of agriculture in one location…in terms of utilising agricultural technology,” he said in an invited comment to Kiskadee Watch yesterday.
His understanding of the matter, he shared, is based largely on media reports. “We haven’t seen any evidence of malpractice or corruption. All I’m seeing is what you guys are posting in the news.”
He argued that questions about the President’s assets should be directed to the Integrity Commission, noting that President Ali has publicly stated that all of his assets have been declared to the commission. “The President has said he has declared everything to them, so they would have the evidence,” Gouveia said.
He added that, beyond those declarations, he has only seen allegations being reported by the media and said he was unsure of their credibility.
Meanwhile, as scrutiny over Ali’s Long Creek farm intensifies, Kiskadee Watch has been unable to obtain answers from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the two key agencies responsible for state lands and environmental oversight.
On Wednesday, this publication visited the GLSC headquarters seeking comment from Chief Executive Officer Enrique Monize on matters relating to the leasing of lands for the President’s agricultural operations. Monize was unavailable, while two senior officials referred to by staff as responsible for such matters also declined to comment.
Senior Land Administration Officer for Region Four Cycrene Fredericks reportedly said she would not speak with the media, while Land Administration Manager Jewel Cheong said she was not authorised to comment and that only the CEO addresses such issues.
At the EPA, Executive Director Kemraj Parsram was also unavailable. Through his secretary, he requested that questions be submitted in writing. Previous telephone requests for comment have also gone unanswered despite assurances that a call would be returned.
The silence from both agencies comes as calls grow for greater transparency over the President’s farm, including questions surrounding the acquisition of the land, financing of the development and whether the necessary approvals were obtained.
Most recently, Opposition Member of Parliament Terrence Campbell tabled a private member’s bill to amend the Integrity Commission Act to require the publication of summary asset declarations submitted by senior public officials, including the President. Campbell said the controversy has exposed weaknesses in Guyana’s transparency framework and challenged parliamentary leaders to voluntarily release their 2025 declarations.
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