Anil's latest response:
My attention was drawn to statements made by Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams at a Press Conference held earlier today in relation to his unfortunate, unprofessional and unethical outburst yesterday in open court before Mr. Justice Franklin Holder, during his cross-examination of a witness in the case filed by Mr. Carvil Duncan against the State.
By now, the entire press corps and indeed the nation must be familiar with the pathetic modus operandi of the Attorney General: whenever he loses a case or his incompetence is exposed, or he misbehaves, in his attempt to deflect blame from himself, he blames others. Yours truly, the PPP/C Government, Permanent Secretary, Indira Anandjit, Solicitor General, Sita Ramlall, Deputy Solicitor General, Prithima Kissoon, Former Chancellor (Ag), Carl Singh and recently Chief Justice (Ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards, have all been victims of this unfortunate but deliberate strategy of the Attorney General.
His reckless utterances to Justice Holder was witnessed by at least two State Counsel of the AG’s Chambers, whom I have no doubt he will either force to remain silent, or lie for him, Carvil Duncan, Carvil Duncan’s Confidential Secretary, Diana Persaud, Rajendra Jaigobin, Attorney-at-Law, members of the press, two Marshalls of the High Court, my Personal Assistant Shivun Hutson, and a few persons who are unknown to me. These persons were all in the Court.
Yet, Mr. Williams bare-facedly denies that he made the statements published by the press, which caused the Honourable Justice Holder to walk off the Bench in disgust and possibly fear, without adjourning the matter. In his characteristic style, Mr. Williams desperately tries to blame me for the morass in which he now finds himself and dishonestly accuses me of causing the Judge to walk off the Bench.
The nation would recall the blatant lie which he peddled to the Chief Justice, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, on December 30th 2015, that the Government had possession of the Red House, during one of the first hearing of the Red House matter. It was hours after, that servants and/or agents of the Ministry of the Presidency attempted to invade the Red House and they were prevented from doing so. This lie was fully unmasked by the press. To date, the world knows that the Cheddi Jagan Research Center is still in occupation of the Red House. He got away with that naked lie to the Chief Justice.
I will now recite fully what I recall transpired before Justice Holder on the 23rd March 2017. After nearly three hours of futile and ineffective cross-examination which yielded no answer supportive of his case, Mr. Williams started to get agitated and accused the Judge of not accurately recording an answer from the witness. The Judge took umbrage to the accusation and an angry Williams in a loud tone of voice repeated the accusations. The Judge, again admonished him about the accusation and about his tone of voice, Williams then blurted out loudly, “I will speak how I want and say what I want anywhere I want… furthermore the last Magistrate who did that to me was later found dead… and I am saying so… that the last Magistrate who did this to me was found dead.”
In obvious shock, the Judge walked off the bench, without adjourning the matter. I had absolutely nothing to do with the Judge walking off the Bench. I maintain that the above is a fair representation of what transpired based upon my recollection. I note, that the AG is threatening to go to Court. I challenge him to do so. I have no doubt that I will be vindicated.
No one who have publicly exhibited the proclivities which Basil Williams has done is fit to hold the office of Attorney General.
Tomorrow I will be holding a press conference on this matter.