Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 13, 2009 News
…and Stanleytown Pump contractor wants $40M as compensation for embarrassment
Contractor for the $154 million De Willem Sluice, West Coast Demerara, Roopan Ramotar, popularly called ‘Fowl Cock’ has sued the National Media and Publishing Company Limited for in excess of $500 million for what he claims is libel contained in the Monday August 24 issue of the Kaieteur News front page caption.
The caption read “This bridge was built at Ruby Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, by the same contractor that did the $154 million De Willem sluice. It cost taxpayers $26.3 million.”
The writ was served on Kaieteur News on September 10, last. Through his Attorney at Law, Gentle Elias, Ramotar also filed an injunction restraining Kaieteur News from further publishing any similar words concerning him.
According to the writ, Roopan Ramotar is of lot 30 Land of Plenty, Essequibo and he is a successful and popular businessman, a building contractor, rice farmer and gold and diamond miner.
The writ stated that in August, Kaieteur News initiated a campaign whereby several photographs of works carried out by Ramotar in particular, and other contractors, were shown on the front page of the newspaper. There were also reports on the cost of such works.
“In the said month, the newspaper maliciously and deliberately published limited as well as inaccurate information which were intended to suggest on the part of the plaintiff and others involved, corruption in building bridges and other construction works and to create the perception of over priced projects and wastage,” the writ stated.
Meanwhile, Kaieteur News also received a letter from Attorney at law, C.V Satram, acting on behalf of his client, Harrychand Tulsi, of Lot 2 Coldingen, East Coast Demerara.
Tulsi is the contractor of the Stanleytown Pump Station, West Bank Demerara. According to the letter, beginning on or about Monday July 20, 2009, Kaieteur News began publishing false and malicious articles of his client calculated to assassinate his good character and reputation.
“You have repeatedly and almost on a daily basis published libelous material on my client. Particular reference is made to your article published on August 20th, 2009 in which you insinuated that my client is engaged in a corrupt scheme with government officials to cheat taxpayers by supplying a water pump valued at one $11 million for a price of $61 million,” the letter stated.
While stating that his client is injured in his credit, character and reputation, and has been brought into public scandal, ridicule and contempt, the lawyer called on Kaieteur News to pay Tulsi $40M as compensation for all resulting in loss and injury.
The lawyer also called on this newspaper to retract the said statements and issue a public apology to his client, which is to be published on the front page of the daily newspaper.
According to the lawyer, if this newspaper fails to comply with the requests then legal action will be taken.
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