Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has dismissed the controversy surrounding President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s farm as a “manufactured scandal,” arguing that no evidence has been produced to show wrongdoing, conflict of interest, or misuse of public office.
Speaking on his programme Issues in the News, Nandlall said opposition figures have attempted to turn the President’s private farming venture into a political controversy, despite explanations already provided by the Head of State.
According to Nandlall, President Ali has made it clear that the land in question was acquired before he became President, that the project was financed through bank loans, and that his assets and liabilities were disclosed to the Integrity Commission.
“Now tell me which piece of evidence, which of these allegations, which of these contentions of the president have you seen a scintilla of evidence to contradict?” Nandlall questioned.
He continued, “Have you seen any evidence that he used the office of the president improperly? Have you seen any evidence that he entered into a conflict of interest situation in relation to this farm? None.”
The Attorney General said the issue has been exaggerated by critics, who, according to him, have failed to present evidence to support claims that the President acted unlawfully or improperly.
“So I ask again, where is the controversy?” Nandlall said.
He also rejected claims about the size of the farm, noting that the President has stated that the land is about 60 to 70 acres, and not the 150-plus acres being peddled by United States-sanctioned Opposition Leader Azzrudin Mohamed.
Nandlall said President Ali’s involvement in farming and business is not new, pointing out that the Head of State had long been involved in agricultural activity before taking office in 2020.
“I know the president was doing chicken on a commercial scale for the longest while, while we were in the opposition, before, long before we took government in 2020,” Nandlall said.
He added that President Ali was also involved in vegetable production and a fruit juice business while the PPP/C was in opposition.
“I know that he produced vegetables and, in fact, he had a fruit juice business, a fruit juice business when we were in opposition,” Nandlall stated.
The Attorney General argued that there is no law preventing a President, minister, or other government official from having business interests, provided those interests do not conflict with their public duties.
“There is no law, there is no code of conduct, there is no regulation which stipulates that a member of government can’t have a business while he holds the office of government or office of a minister or a president or the presidency,” Nandlall said.
He added that he also has business interests, but said those interests do not conflict with his responsibilities as a government official.
“I have business interests while they do not conflict with my governmental activities. And there’s nothing wrong with that,” he stated.
Nandlall also pushed back against calls for a Commission of Inquiry into the matter, questioning what exactly would be investigated in the absence of evidence.
“A commission of enquiry about what?” he asked, adding that critics were attempting to create the impression that assets acquired before public office were obtained while in office.
The Attorney General said some documents being circulated on social media appear to show government leases bearing the name of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, which, in his view, indicates that the land was leased years before Ali became President.
He said the opposition’s focus on the farm forms part of a wider pattern of what he described as attempts to create political scandals.
“This attempt at a scandal is the act of a desperate bunch in the opposition. And it will fizzle out,” Nandlall said.
He added that last week’s controversy was over former Presidents’ benefits, while this week’s focus is the President’s farm.
