Opposition Leader and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Leader Azruddin Mohamed has called for the immediate resignation of President Irfaan Ali, saying the Head of State must account for the acquisition and rapid development of a sprawling Long Creek ranch that has triggered one of the biggest political controversies of his presidency.
The call came hours after Mohamed’s exposé thrust the President’s luxury estate into the national spotlight, igniting widespread debate over the scale of the property, its estimated value and how it was financed.
The revelations captivated Guyanese in much the same way the country was riveted in 2022 by VICE News correspondent Isobel Yeung’s investigation into allegations of corruption in the award of government contracts. That documentary featured allegations by Chinese businessman Su Zhirong that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo facilitated kickbacks for Chinese contractors seeking state projects—allegations Jagdeo has repeatedly denied.
This time, however, the focus shifted to President Ali after photographs and videos of his expansive ranch at Long Creek, along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, spread rapidly across social media. The approximately 150-acre estate, estimated by critics to be worth well over $2 billion based on current land values and the scale of its development, has left many Guyanese questioning how such a property could have been acquired and developed within a few years by a career public servant whose official salary is approximately $3.7 million per month.
Public scrutiny intensified after President Ali acknowledged ownership of the ranch while defending its development, but the disclosure has done little to quell questions about the source of the wealth used to establish the estate.
With public scrutiny mounting, Mohamed on Sunday called for President Ali’s immediate resignation.
“As Opposition Leader of Guyana, I am calling for the immediate resignation of President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali,” Mohamed declared.
He continued: “President Irfaan Ali has confirmed his ownership of the luxury estate ranch, which is estimated to be worth more than 5 BILLION DOLLARS based on the current market value of land along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway while his presidential salary is $3.7 million dollars per month. It is important to note that President Irfaan has been a public servant all his life. His luxury estate is located in Long Creek.”
Mohamed argued that the existence of the estate has deepened public concern at a time when many Guyanese continue to struggle despite the country’s unprecedented oil wealth.
“President Irfaan Ali’s sprawling private 150-acre luxury estate ranch, valued at billions of dollars and developed just three years after he took office in 2020, while 60% of Guyanese live in poverty. President Irfaan Ali will go down in history and be remembered as Guyana’s most corrupt and selfish President, a lasting mark of shame on his legacy.”
The Opposition Leader also linked the controversy to the Government’s proposed Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill, arguing that it would require taxpayers to finance the upkeep of the President’s lifestyle after he leaves office.
The bill, now before the National Assembly, would repeal reforms enacted by the former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration in 2015 that capped benefits available to former presidents. It would restore a broad package of state-funded benefits, including unlimited electricity and water, transportation, technical and clerical staff, office support and full-time security.
Mohamed contended that the legislation would effectively shift the cost of maintaining the President’s sprawling estate onto taxpayers.
“The Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill that President Irfaan Ali is now currently pushing to pass in Parliament is for Guyanese to pay for UNLIMITED electricity and water supply among other perks, designed specifically for him to maintain his sprawling ranch and live luxuriously after he leaves office, all off the backs of Guyanese.”
He further stated: “Additionally, the bill states unlimited electricity, water, technical staff, provision of motor vehicle owned and maintained by the state, which can be capitalised by President Irfaan Ali to request vehicles which he can then use to manage his ranch. Also full-time security for his sprawling estate and clerical staff where Guyanese tax payer dollars will be used to pay for the staff to run his business.”
The ranch has since become the dominant political issue in Guyana, with questions continuing to mount over the scale of the investment, how it was financed and whether the President’s publicly declared income could reasonably support such a development. President Ali has maintained that he has done nothing unlawful.
The Government has defended the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill, saying it modernises the framework governing benefits for former Heads of State. The measure, however, has attracted criticism from opposition parties, trade unions and civil society organisations, which argue that expanding taxpayer-funded benefits is difficult to justify while many Guyanese continue to grapple with poverty despite the country’s oil-driven economic boom.
