An insult to Irfaan Ali

Jan 06, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
Kindly permit me space in your newspaper to respond to an article published on page 2 of the Kaieteur News on Sunday January 1st, 2012 titled “Irfaan Ali builds mansion with pool-house”. After reading that article one gets the impression that Mr. Ali has built a mansion and a pool-house having becoming a Minster of Government for just over two years.
I am sure the author of the article did not investigate this matter fully before going to the press and has therefore tarnished the credibility of the Kaieteur News and reduced and ridiculed a public official without cause.
For the records,  Mr. Ali acquired that property through a competitive bidding process which took place over four years ago. The opening of the bid when Mr. Ali was judged as the highest bidder for the said property is public knowledge.
Any investigative journalist worth his salt can readily ascertain this fact. However the newspaper sought to publish unsubstantiated statement which appears to have been done mainly for sensationalism purposes and has tarnished the media as a vibrant protector of individual freedoms.
Further investigation would reveal that the house so maliciously sprayed on the front page was a part of the property at the time of purchase. The pool has been of recent construction.
Editor, as you may be aware, the time has come for our newspapers to not only present the news but to present it in a manner that is credible and can stand up to public scrutiny, just as how they would like the public officials to stand up to scrutiny.
Articles such as these only serve to drive independent thinkers who read the newspapers not to take them seriously.
I would recommend that the author of the article retract the accusations which are certainly libelous against the Minister and in future try to do in-depth research before trying to defame our public officials. The Editor-in-Chief also holds liability for publishing material that is totally erroneous, false and mischievous.
Z. ALLY