Woolford files $185M libel suit against Guyana Times, Ramsammy
-maintains they were illegally given out
Former General Manager of the National Communications Network (NCN) Enrico Woolford has filed a $185 million lawsuit against the Guyana Times and one of its columnists, former Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, on the contention that they have libelled him.
In his statement of claim, Woolford (the Claimant) said that Ramsammy made certain libelous statements about him which were published in his column by the Times newspaper on March 18th, 2020.
In addition to damages, he also wants the court to grant an interim injunction restraining Ramsammy and the Times (the Defendants) from, whether by their servants and/or agents, further publishing or causing to be published by any means whatsoever, whether electronic or print, the offensive words.
The words complained of by Woolford are contained in the March 18th, 2020 publication of the Guyana Times, under the headline "Ramsammy's Ruminations: Caricom, ABCE, Commonwealth, OAS - time for sanctions patience."
Woolford also wants a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from not only again publishing the offensive words, but any other words/statements of a similar nature which are defamatory to him.
He is further seeking to have the court grant a mandatory injunction compelling the defendants to forthwith permanently remove the column in question, from the online edition of Guyana Times newspapers and for them to publish a retraction and apology.
Woolford said that the statements in controversy are false, malicious, defamatory, and impugn his character and reputation.
He wants interest to be paid on the damages being sought, as well as to be awarded court costs and any further order the court may deem just to grant.
Woolford describes himself in his statement of claim as a media and communications professional for over 30 years with international, regional and local repute. now, no more
Enrico Woolford
He said he has worked on Elections Observer missions as an accredited observer on behalf of the international community; and that at the time of the publication of the words complained of, he was the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman /Director of the NCN.
Woolford said Ramsammy had brought that his name into disrepute in his column without either him or the Times making any attempt at calling him before the publication, to exonerate himself.
The claimant said that the article had also targeted and brought his “innocent” family into disrepute without any allegation ever being levelled against him.
Woolford advances that given the gravity of the allegation levelled against him, he ought to have been given a chance to first be heard.
He said that in the article’s call for adverse consequences to be brought upon his family, the defendants cemented the malicious nature of the defamation by exposing his family to any kind of harm by any group of persons or entities.
Woolford contends that the defendants falsely and maliciously libelled him and that the words complained of were understood to refer to him.
Being the only person with his name in the media fraternity “or the world for that matter,” he said, in publishing of his name, there could be no misunderstanding of the writer’s intention to identify him.
The publication by the defendants, he said, has substantially hurt and diminished his image in the eyes and minds of the local, regional and international diplomatic and media fraternities, in which he said he had previously enjoyed an unblemished reputation spanning several decades.
Ramsammy’s article, he said, was meant to expressly convey among other things, that he (Woolford) was dishonest, of questionable character and devoid of integrity, unscrupulous and engaged in illegal activities.
Woolford further claims that the publication has resulted in serious injuries to his reputation, credit, and has made him subject to ridicule and lowered him in the estimation of right thinking persons.
He said that it has resulted in substantial loss of business and that the defamation continues, because the column complained of is currently still on the newspapers’ website.
Woolford is being represented by attorney Eusi Anderson.
While maintaining his criticism of the issuance of two controversial trawler licences, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday said stakeholders must always be consulted before the issuance of licences in their respective industries.
At an AFC press conference, Ramjattan reiterated that the two licences issued to Rampersaud Sookhdeo for seabob fishing did not have any input from key stakeholders of the Guyana
Association of Trawler Operators and Seafood Processors (GATOSP). He also suggested that the fact no consultation was held prior to the issuance of the licences is against the law as the constitution states that all stakeholders must be consulted on sensitive issues.
Added to that, he claimed that there was no support from the Ministry’s Fisheries Department, while also highlighting Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha’s initial refusal to answer questions regarding the licences in the National Assembly.
Since mid-November when GATOSP first brought the issue to the fore, questions have been asked about the circumstances under which licences were issued.
The association in its first missive to the Minister of Agriculture stated that the two licences had been granted in contravention of sustainable fishing practices.
In a recent interview with Stabroek News, the minister had said that the approval of the new licences does not breach the quota of vessels that can operate nor does it threaten the international certification of the trade as has been claimed by GATOSP.
He justified the approval by explaining that several licences are inactive and the current number of trawlers operating does not exceed 80, while emphasising that it does not go against the agreement in place with GATOSP and international partners.
After months of secrecy, the Ministry of Agriculture decided to reveal that the holder of two controversial trawling licences is Sookhdeo, who it said is a Guyanese man who relocated from Trinidad because of COVID-19.
GATOSP has said it had no knowledge of Sookhdeo.
Guyana holds the position as the number one exporter of seabob shrimps. In 2019 almost
21,000 metric tonnes were exported, versus 2018 when 22,000 metric tonnes were shipped out.