Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has returned to Leonora, West Coast Demerara, the home village of President Irfaan Ali, to renew his allegations of corruption surrounding a major property development next to the President’s estate—days after police twice detained him during the night while he was in the area.
Mohamed described Leonora as the place where he has faced increasing police scrutiny while pursuing what he says is his effort to expose corruption and question the use of public resources.
On September 3, police intercepted Mohamed and members of his team near President Ali’s private residence after receiving reports of alleged unauthorised drone activity. Mohamed was questioned and released on self-bail. Police later searched the residences of members of his team as part of the investigation. No charges have been announced against Mohamed in connection with the incident.
Later that same night, Mohamed was again taken to the Leonora Police Station after continuing to broadcast from the area. He subsequently said he would continue visiting communities and exposing what he considers corruption and government neglect.
Now back at the site that could be described as the scene of his “torment,” Mohamed has turned his attention to a large property development adjoining the President’s Leonora estate.
“This is what corruption looks like under the PPP. I’m standing next to a great wall, but I’m not in China. I’m in Lenora, the village where the president is from.”
Mohamed said the property behind a towering perimeter fence was acquired through Sea Spray Holdings Inc., which he said was registered on June 10, 2025.
He alleged that attorney Devindra Kissoon, whom he identified as a lawyer for President Ali, appears on the company’s registration documents as incorporator, secretary and director.
Mohamed further alleged that the company acquired a one-acre parcel at Lot 4, Lot 1 Seaspray, next to the President’s property, for $25 million shortly after its incorporation.
“We all know that the real estate value for a property in a secured location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, next to the president, is worth far more. Come on, where can you get a one-acre plot of prime land for 25 million?”
He claimed information from real estate agents placed the land’s value at approximately $200 million and questioned the circumstances surrounding its sale by Dr. Surendra Persaud and his wife, Savina Persaud.
“I wonder if Dr. Surendra Persaud and his wife Savina Persaud were promised something in return for this significantly undervalued land they sold.”
Those claims have not been independently established, and Mohamed did not produce a valuation or documentary evidence during his address to substantiate the alleged $200 million market value or any claim that the sellers received or were promised anything in return.
He also pointed to the scale of construction taking place on the property, including the elaborate fence, sea-defence works, road and drainage infrastructure.
“Look at this massive fence alone. I think it is worth over 50 million dollars, including the trims, the moldings, and the cronts.”
Mohamed alleged that overseas specialists were involved in aspects of the sea-defence works and questioned changes to drainage infrastructure.
“There was previously a four-foot underground drain running toward the seawall. That drain has now been covered in the area of this property, allowing the fence and development to extend further out toward the resort.”
He contrasted the development with the condition of roads in other communities, pointing out that what he described as a former “dam that leads to nowhere” had become a newly asphalted road.
The Opposition Leader also linked the development to an alleged conversation with Ali in 2019, when Ali was still in Opposition.
“Fellow Guyanese, back in 2019, when Irfan was in opposition, he confided in me that he really wants this one acre of land. He said if he gets this acre, that will be two acres for himself, all the way to the corner.”
Mohamed used that alleged conversation to question the present development, suggesting it should not surprise anyone that significant infrastructure and construction are now taking place there.
He also alleged that people are being used to front businesses on behalf of the President, promising to release what he said would be further details.
“We will expose all these details very soon, very shortly.”
Mohamed’s return to Leonora comes as his political confrontation with the government intensifies. He has repeatedly accused the PPP administration and senior officials of corruption and questioned the accumulation of wealth and property by President Ali, government ministers, their families and associates.
The President and government officials have rejected allegations of corruption and wrongdoing. Mohamed says the Leonora development is another issue demanding greater public scrutiny.
“I will continue to ask these questions and I will continue to demand answers, because Guyana belongs to all of us, not to those who hold political power.”
He ended by challenging the authorities and property owners to account for what he sees as an extraordinary development in a politically sensitive location.
“We are eager to see who will occupy this land and the mansion be built very soon, very shortly.”
The claims surrounding ownership, valuation, financing and construction at the property remain allegations and require independent verification. But Mohamed’s decision to return to Leonora—after his recent encounters with police there—underscores his determination to continue using the area as a focal point for his campaign to expose what he describes as corruption under the PPP government.
