AG’s statement rife with dishonesty
The conversation between the Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Kaieteur News senior reporter Leonard Gildarie, was indeed with someone whom he said was a colleague. But to say that selected portions of the conversation were released is to accuse Kaieteur News and the person with whom he had the conversation of dishonesty.
The recording and the transcript spoke for themselves. Further, Kaieteur News is prepared to submit the recording for authentication to any international organization the Attorney General chooses.
The recording of the conversation was a decision by the reporter for whatever reason he chooses. Any manipulation was in the mind of the Attorney General. He heard the recording, he knew precisely what he said, how he said it, and when he said it. He knew that there was no manipulation or distortion. He also knew why he was saying what he said.
To tell the public that Kaieteur News did something unprofessional is to blatantly lie. And he knows that the authorities would not send the recording for a forensic audit. If they are to send any recording it must be the original and not one that could have been tampered with by the same authorities.
The public did hear what the Attorney General said, because he knew that he said it; he knew that there was no distortion. The remarks were not only attributed to the Attorney General, they were his words and he does not deny them.
If indeed he did share the views about freedom of the press, he would also share the view that as a public figure his comments were of interest to the public. He should also tell the public about the number of lawsuits he has filed to silence the very media he says should be free.
In 2006 he wrote a letter on this very issue when the government released a recording of a conversation between the then Police Commissioner Winston Felix and attorney at law Basil Williams; he quoted the British law to support the right to release what was also a private conversation. What makes his conversation any different?
“The Guyanese public and I are equally victims of an unethical journalist and an unprincipled newspaper operating in a free environment,” says Nandlall.
The public must ask “What is unethical about recording the chief lawmaker and protector of the laws and the citizens of the country making a threat to the lives of the staff of Kaieteur News?”
The people are to be shot soon, according to the Attorney General.
It is illegal, immoral and unethical for him to be in possession of such information and not inform the authorities. He does inform his friend and encourages him to quit the office.
We await the outcome of his legal proceedings, copies of which are still to be served on Kaieteur News. Truth is the greatest defence and this will torpedo any effort Nandlall makes to hide behind his legal action.
His comment about the female reporter is enough for him to resign. No woman should live with such a person who holds women in such low esteem and calls himself a man.
No woman can and should trust him to continue to struggle for their rights and expect him to represent them. He should not be allowed near any woman or girl child.
The Attorney General as a lawyer knows that to misappropriate funds and to repay does not negate punishment. Many who have stolen and have made restitution are in jail.