Dear Editor,
This is in response to your editorial of Nov 3, news reports of Oct 31 and Nov 5 and letters of Nov 5 pertaining to a phone conversation between the Attorney General and a reporter of Kaieteur News. There have been many pronouncements and commentaries on the purported illegal recording of friendly, off-the-cuff banter between the AG, Anil Nandlall, and the reporter, Mr Gildharie whom the AG said he trusted. Challenges have been made regarding the authenticity of the recording with the AG claiming it was distorted and manipulated, and that portions had been selectively released to the public. The public does not know the full facts of the transaction. Since the matter has involved the police, with both KN and the AG filing complaints before the law enforcement body, it is wise for the public (media houses included) to refrain from commenting on the said matter to avoid the appearance of influencing the investigation one way or the other. Judgment should not be passed until all the facts have been determined.
I do not know how and why the AG got himself into this mess and how it will impact on him and on the effectiveness of the government, but Anil Nandlall has been an enormously popular political figure ever since he became AG, according to opinion polls conducted by this writer on President Ramotar’s government since early 2012. He has consistently earned high ratings (2012-14) ranking among the top three ministerial performers as well as debaters in parliament on the government side. Two among the latest polls I conducted last February and last July ranked him in the top two in both categories, and another tracking poll I conducted last month also gave him high ratings.
Mr Nandlall has very high approval ratings as AG, as well as soaring likeability (favourability) ratings as a person among all sections of the population; he is among the few PPP figures who has cross-racial appeal and who is admired among the PPP grass roots, placing him among presidential contenders in future elections. He is widely admired by party supporters and even critics for his vociferous and stealthy defence of the government, with many describing him as a brilliant lawyer. Ironically, readers of KN, with which he has had this controversy, love him. It will be interesting to find out how the recorded conversation will impact on his political ratings. Pollsters should explore this angle.
With regard to the serious matter involving the purported illegal recording including its contents, guilt or innocence should not be presumed until both the AG and the reporter have been interviewed by the police and their views made public (if it will not compromise proceedings). Since it is a critically important matter, the police should expedite their work to bring it to closure and to apprise the nation of their findings. The KN reporter and the paper itself gave their views on the recording, its contents and the fate of Mr Nandlall. The AG should have addressed the public and explained exactly what happened, since the public already has heard most, if not all, of KN’s side. The AG has not spoken (fully) on the matter since he is presumably waiting for the police to conclude their investigation. As the highest law enforcement person in the country, his lips may be sealed because of the police investigation. In the interest of fairness, it is premature for any institution or individual to pronounce on the matter, or on the good faith of the AG, until the public has had an opportunity to hear from him, with a full explanation of what happened; get the response of the reporter who illegally taped the AG; and from the police on whether there was a criminal offence by the AG and/or the reporter which will be followed by charges.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
