In a letter dated October 14, 2024, Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, representing the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr Anand Persaud, formally demanded a retraction and apology from Blogger/journalist Leroy Smith. This action follows serious allegations published on Smith’s website, ‘Big Smith News Watch,’ suggesting Minister Persaud was involved in a plot against high-ranking police officials.
The article, titled “Text messages forwarded by minister exposes plot to have SOCU target ‘Top Cop’ and Brutus,” gained traction on social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp. The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) is central to the allegations.
Attorney Sanjeev Datadin stated that the claims in the article are “false and malicious,” asserting that Minister Persaud is not involved in any conspiratorial activities against Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus or Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken.
Datadin pointed out that Smith operates multiple social media accounts under his name and the ‘Big Smith News Watch’ banner, where the article was widely shared. He emphasized that the allegations are baseless and part of a larger pattern of misinformation aimed at influencing public perception of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and its senior members.
“Your allegation is utterly false and without merit,” Datadin wrote, highlighting that Smith did not attempt to seek comments from the minister before publishing the article. He criticized the journalist’s use of vague language, suggesting it was intended to mislead the public.
The letter also noted Minister Persaud’s position as a public official and the potential professional and personal repercussions of such false claims. According to Datadin, the publication has significantly harmed Minister Persaud’s reputation and could hinder his ability to perform his public duties effectively.
“Your false and malicious assertions have caused my client much professional and personal harm and will continue to cause my client harm in his ability to fulfill his public duties and to engage with persons local and internationally…,” he stated.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, Datadin demanded that Smith issue a “clear, unqualified and unconditional apology and retraction” by 14:00hrs on October 16, 2024. He also indicated that Minister Persaud is entitled to substantial compensation and legal costs due to the gravity of the allegations, requesting a proposal from Smith regarding damages and costs, along with a draft of the apology.
The attorney’s letter serves as a warning to Smith, stating that failure to respond satisfactorily by the deadline would lead to legal action. “In the meantime, my client reserves all his rights,” Datadin concluded, indicating that Minister Persaud is prepared to pursue all available legal avenues to address the issue.
It has become evident that social media Bloggers, under the guise of questioning the credibility of PPP ministers, deliberately spread misleading information and distort genuine news as fake. This behavior is unethical and damaging to the reputation of government ministers and officials who have been serving the public with integrity.
The so-called journalists behind these fabricated claims must understand that the government and ministers will no longer tolerate such baseless accusations. Ministers are prepared to take legal action, including lawsuits, to protect their reputations and hold those accountable for defamation and misinformation accountable. The time has come to put an end to these false allegations and ensure that those attempting to manipulate public opinion through deceptive narratives face the consequences in a court of law.