-threatens legal action against KN, Guyana Times and INews

ACCUSATIONS made by Anil Nandlall that Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC, threatened a High Court judge has been described by the latter as “crass disrespect” and an assault on the government.

The case involves Carvil Duncan, who was accused of being involved in the purloining of $27M, while he served as a Director of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

Duncan was charged and a letter was dispatched to him by the Prime Minister, the designated authority, for him to show cause why a tribunal should not be set up by the President to look at the question of his removal from those constitutional offices he held; including the Public Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission and the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) Commission.

Williams, SC, entered the case as AG after Deputy Solicitor General (DSG), Prithima Kissoon, was sent on administrative leave last month.

Nandlall stated that during the trial on March 23, 2017, after hours of cross-examination, Williams got “agitated” and accused the High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder of not accurately recording answers from the witness.

He said that the Judge took umbrage to the accusation made by the AG who, despite being warned, made the accusation a second time. Nandlall related that the Judge again admonished Williams, SC about the accusation and he (Williams) responded by threatening the Judge.

Nandlall made a public statement about the incident on his Facebook profile on Thursday evening, and this was used by three media houses, which produced stories on the incident. The three entities were Kaieteur News, Guyana Times and INews.

In light of these accusations being peddled by these publications, the AG on Friday at a press conference at the National Communications Network (NCN), said that he will take legal actions against those media houses.

“I practiced law for 33 years and no allegations have been made against me in the practice of my profession. Newspapers have come out and I shall be taking actions against those newspapers” he told reporters.

The AG said that he will be taking actions because several weeks ago he warned that it was no longer “free day” on his name, as he would not permit anyone to filch his “good name”.

“I have never done acts of corruption” AG Williams maintained.

He went on to state that the accusation by Nandlall, who is a former AG, “reeks of crass disrespect” and is an “assault on the government,” since he (Williams) is a government minister.

“I gave warning. I am not going to allow people to attack me and my office. It is an assault on the government. We have to ensure people’s reputation are protected” the AG said, confirming that legal actions will also be taken against Nandlall.

In detailing what transpired, Williams, SC said that he was cross-examining Duncan, who is being represented by Nandlall, and the latter kept interrupting the court.

Williams, SC said that when the Judge announced that he was about to adjourn the matter, he (Williams) made a request to ask a final question, which he was permitted to do.

The AG said that after he had asked his final question to the confidential secretary of Duncan, since she was the one being cross-examined, he thanked her and proceeded to his seat.

He then stated that: “When I was about to sit, I saw the Judge was about to leave and I said ex abundanti cautela; out of excessive caution could I enquire the answer ‘no’ was recorded. The Judge, to my surprise said, Mr. Williams you’re not in charge of my court.”

The AG related that the Judge then said that he interprets what Williams said to mean that he (the Judge) did not record a previous answer given by the witness, and that he (the Judge) takes great umbrage to that.

Williams, SC said he then shared an experience which happened years ago, where a magistrate presiding over a matter he was involved in had interpreted something he said, differently. He said that since then he has been “particular” about what he says in court and “incidentally, that magistrate is dead now”.

He noted that after this, he continued his conversation with Justice Holder, after which Nandlall “jumped in as though he was under the influence of something” and the Judge left the benches.
The AG said that his view is that the Judge had intended to leave but he (Williams) had detained him by asking another question. He said that no date was given by the Judge for a continuation of the hearing, as he has the option of sending notices to counsel about new dates.

I am concerned about what happened… I am the Attorney General of this country and as Minister of Legal Affairs, I have an interest in how justice is meted out in this country” Williams, SC said.