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President Irfaan Ali has now publicly acknowledged that the sprawling agricultural ranch at the centre of growing public controversy belongs to him, ending weeks of speculation over ownership and shifting the national conversation to an even more consequential question: How was an operation of this scale financed?
The ranch, located along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, has been described as an expansive, highly developed agricultural estate featuring modern poultry operations, cattle facilities, sheep and goat farms, aquaculture systems, hydroponic greenhouses, orchards, worker housing, recreational amenities and extensive infrastructure. According to estimates compiled in a widely circulated video, the total investment in the property exceeds $2.2 billion. Those figures have not been independently verified and no official valuation has been released.
The estimates paint a picture of a highly capital-intensive operation. They include approximately $75 million for a private access road, $300 million for land clearing and preparation, $340 million for two commercial poultry tunnel houses, $250 million for orchards and citrus production, $150 million in hydroponic greenhouses and another $150 million in machinery and equipment. The estimates also place the value of residential and recreational amenities, including a swimming pool and entertainment facilities, at approximately $165 million.
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