Anil Nandlall responds to spy allegation

Aug 01, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
My attention was drawn to the bold front page headline in Kaieteur New, 31st July, 2014, – MEN IN ANIL NANDLALL’s VEHICLE TERRORIZE KAIETEUR NEWS STAFF.
The story following the bizarre headline was a hair rising tale about a vehicle owned by the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government of Guyana transporting, persons who, while seated in the vehicle, took out photographs of Kaieteur News premises at Saffon Street with a cell phone. The article alleged that someone was armed with a gun in the said vehicle.
On Monday, I received a text message from Mr. Glenn Lall and then a phone call from Mr. Adam Harris informing me, that persons in this vehicle, were seen taking out photographs with a cell phone of Kaieteur News premises. I explained to Mr. Harris my whereabouts of that day and the description of the vehicle that I was using at the time. My location was several miles away from the vicinity of those premises and the vehicle that I was using was appreciably different in make, colour and year of manufacture. At that time no mention was made of any gun.
In any event, assuming that Mr. Glenn Lall and Mr. Adam Harris were correct in their information to me, it is not against any law to take out a photograph of any person, building or vehicle. Armed with that belief, I assumed that the matter was put to rest as it is so trivial. The headline and story to which I have made reference clearly proved me wrong.
A gun has now been introduced into this suspense-filled saga.
I have spoken publicly on many occasions about the abuse of press freedom by media operators in Guyana this is but yet another example. It is not the first time that the owner of Kaieteur News has used his newspaper as a weapon to attack me and to prosecute a personal vengeful agenda.
On or around July, 2007, while my brother was a senior functionary at Guyana Power & Light Inc., he led a team of investigators who conducted an inspection at that very Kaieteur News office building at Saffon Street, where it was discovered that a GPL meter was deliberately bypassed and electricity was being consumed illegally. As a result, Kaieteur News was back billed to the tune of in excess of $7,000,000.00 (seven million dollars). Mr. Glenn Lall attempted to compromise the integrity of my brother so as to avoid payment of the arrears. My brother rejected all his entreaties and chased him out of his office. He threatened my brother to use his Newspaper to destroy him. Although I was wholly unconnected with this event, he called my law office and issued a similar threat to me.
A few days thereafter, that is, on the 22nd July, 2007, the Kaieteur carried a front page headline that I was wanted by the Police in relation to a vehicular accident. It was a total fabrication. A vehicle owned by my wife was involved in an accident. I was not the driver and therefore could not be of any assistance to the Police. Using his newspaper again, he launched a similar malicious campaign against my brother. We both sued him for libel.
Over the last year and for reasons unknown to me, Mr. Glenn Lall has renewed his agenda of vendetta against me. He has since included my friend, Mr Clifton Bacchus, the owner of Sleepin Hotel in his libelous assault. We have both sued him and obtained injunctions against him. Yet, he persists with libelous publications. Mr. Bacchus has filed contempt proceedings against him and Mr. Adam Harris. Those proceedings are pending. This is the latest act of retaliation. Mr. Adam Harris loves to convey the impression that he is innocent and that he is simply carrying out directions. I am not that gullible.
These are two gentlemen, who earn their livelihood by slaughtering the character and reputation of others and when there is a slightest evidence of a reaction, they cowardly run for cover, using the innocent workers of Kaieteur News as their shield. The truth is, that it is not the workers who are terrorised but the two of them.
I want to make it clear that were I to embark upon the type of conduct which is alleged and endowed with the motive to which I have been ascribed, I will not use a vehicle that is so easily discernable and the staff of Kaieteur News will not be the focus. After all, they have done me nothing.
Mohabir Anil Nandlall
Attorney General

Editor’s note: Mr Nandlall was as scandalous as scandalous can be. It was Mr Lall who refused to pay a bribe to Nandlall and his brother. Nandlall was the one who made the approach to Mr Lall on behalf of his brother.
GPL has the record that the exact charge was paid. Nandlall was upset because no bribe was paid. His brother has since left for Canada, for good.  Perhaps Nandlall should explain.
In the case of the accident, Mr Lall insists that Nandlall was in the vehicle and if he was not the driver, for sure he was drunk. There were many witnesses who are still around.
Kaieteur News was not built on character assassination; it was built on the truth and the Guyanese people here and abroad, can attest to that.  (Please click on link to take a close look at this 5-minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApwL0_TwhdU&feature=youtu.be)

 

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