President Irfaan Ali highlighted sea and river defence works carried out across Region Three in a post on his social media page. He shared photographs and described them as “critical sea and river defence works completed and advanced across Region Three between 2025 and 2026.”
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed had raised questions about drainage and sea-defence infrastructure in the Leonora area. Ali said the works span Windsor Forest, La Jalousie, Blankenburg, Den Amstel, Hague, Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Groenveldt, Leonora, Viva-La-Force, La Retraite, La Grange, Zeelugt, Tuschen and Parika. Ali’s subsequent post placed the Leonora works within a wider series of sea and river defence projects being undertaken across Region Three. The President did not specifically address Mohamed’s individual claims concerning the Leonora property or the underground drainage channel in the statement provided.
Mohamed published a video on his Leader of the Opposition page in which he questioned aspects of the infrastructure surrounding a property development in Leonora and drew attention to the drainage infrastructure in the area. The focus of his remarks was on the drainage and sea-defence works, including the alleged alteration of the underground drainage channel and the extent of works toward the reserve.
He alleged that a previously existing four-foot underground drain ran toward the seawall before being covered in the vicinity of the property. He alleged that the covering of the drain allowed the fence and development to extend farther outward toward the reserve. Mohamed pointed to what he described as the scale of the works being undertaken in the area, including the drainage infrastructure, and said that the land was being rapidly drained when it rained.
He alleged that specialists from overseas had been involved in overseeing aspects of the works and questioned why the infrastructure appeared different around the property. He pointed to the location of the fence in relation to the fence of a nearby masjid, saying, “Look at the fence of the masjid. Look at where it stops. And look at where this fence is.”
He questioned whether political connections had influenced the infrastructure works, alleging that the sea-defence works and development in the area represented preferential treatment. Mohamed raised broader questions about the property development located near President Ali’s Leonora estate. The property development is located near President Ali’s Leonora estate.
