The police file on the alleged threatening remarks made by Attorney General Anil Nandlall in relation to the owner and staff of the Kaieteur News is still at the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the office said yesterday while clarifying that a report given to this newspaper that it was returned to the Crime Chief was an error.
Public relations officer Liz Rahaman said that it was a mistake and an oversight while stressing that the file which arrived at the Chambers on November 18, is still engaging the attention of the DPP.
Stabroek News reported in yesterday’s edition that the file was returned to Crime Chief Leslie James late last week.
Police in a press release yesterday morning refuted that aspect of the article stating that the file is still with the DPP for legal advice.
On October 27, owner of the Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall made an official complaint to the police that Nandlall had made threats against the entity and its staff. He also handed over a copy of a recorded conversation of the alleged threats. In the recording, Nandlall was heard having a conversation on various issues with senior reporter Leonard Gildarie.
Lall in an invited comment on Tuesday had expressed concern at the length of time the matter was taking to reach a conclusion. He said that despite the delay he will never give up and will continue his pursuit of justice.
In the 19-minute conversation Nandlall was heard saying “Everybody doesn’t have a newspaper to use as a weapon,” he says. “I told Adam [Adam Harris, Kaieteur News editor], I said, ‘Adam, people got weapons, right. They ain’t got newspaper to use as a weapon; they got weapons. And when you continue to attack people like that and they have no way of responding they will just walk with dey weapon into that same [expletive] Saffon Street office and wha’ come shall do.’”
He added: “And innocent…” before changing course and continuing, “Peter will have to pay for [expletive] Paul in that way. I tell you, honestly, man to man that will happen soon.” He further advised Gildarie to “get out of deh,” the quicker, the better.
The AG said too that Lall “feels that he is above the law” and has resorted to using the daily newspaper “as a weapon.”
Subsequently, Nandlall in a meeting with the staff of the Advice, Litigation and Drafting Departments and Members of the Senior Management of the Ministry of Legal Affairs said that he was unaware of any planned violent attack against the newspaper or any reporter. He described the released conversation as an “unexpected betrayal” and apologized for any embarrassment it had caused.
