Attorney Jaya Manickchand yesterday said she was never retained by Johnny Anthony Welshman, who has made abuse allegations against Speaker Raphael Trotman, although she did seek to “mediate” a settlement on his behalf.
“I was never retained by Johnny Welshman in the ongoing matter with allegations against Raphael Trotman. I am not retained by him and I do not (present tense) represent Mr Welshman,” Manickchand stated in a letter to the editor that she described as her last statement on her involvement in the matter.
Trotman, who has denied the allegations, included texts sent to him by Manickchand advising a settlement as an exhibit in the filings for legal proceedings against Welshman, from whom he is seeking in excess of $50 million in damages for alleged libel.
Trotman’s party, the AFC, which maintains that the allegations are part of a politically-directed campaign against him, has said it was evident from the text messages that Manickchand acted extensively on behalf of Welshman and was deeply involved in representing his interests.
In her letter yesterday, Manickchand stated that she was open to doing a lie detector test which would prove there was nothing sinister or politically-motivated in her talks with Welshman.
“I would be happy to take a lie detector test as to whether my involvement in this matter was in any way sinister and/or meant to distract from the AFC’s no confidence motion and/or to bring down the Speaker of the House or the AFC and/or in any way politically motivated, inspired, directed or driven if Raphael is also going to take a lie detector test to clear, what he insists is, his good name,” she wrote.
Seeking to explain her role in the matter, Manickchand informed that last Friday Welshman visited her office but she was not there. But upon her return she called him by phone. It was through that phone call, she said, that the Welshman informed her of his allegations and that he had made a report at the Criminal Investigations Department. She said that after hearing of the report, she believed that the matter would become a public matter soon. She also advised Welshman to seek counsel with the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“Based on certain information offered by Mr Welshman, I offered to speak with Raphael Trotman to mediate between the parties about if a likely ‘settlement’ could have been met. I was still not retained by Welshman. However, if having spoken to Raphael Trotman, I felt a settlement could be reached, then I would have considered facilitating that settlement,” she said.
“I thought it best to have Raphael deal with this matter privately because he has young daughters and I know allegations like the ones being made, can be hurtful to anyone, and particularly young, innocent girls. Further, given what Welshman told me and the manner in which he told me same, I felt he too would best be served by the route he (Welshman) was proposing, that being a settlement,” she added.
She said too that to date she has never met with Welshman in person but has corresponded to him via telephone.
Manickchand said that having determined that there was no further assistance she could offer after speaking with Trotman, she “recused” herself from the matter. As a result, she said when she later told reporters that she did not represent Welshman, there was nothing “incorrect” in her statement. “Editor, please let me state clearly. The words, “I am not retained,” which is what I said to the reporters, means that there is no contract between me and Johnny Welshman for me to provide legal services to him,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the Chambers of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, referring to an enquiry made by a Guyana Times reporter as to whether there had been a conversation on Sunday with Johnny Welshman during which a certain commitment had been given, yesterday said no engagement took place. “At no time did she ever engage in a conversation, telephone or otherwise, with Mr Welshman… the DPP further categorically states that since she did not have any conversation with Mr Welshman, she could not or did not gave assurances that she will provide protection for him as is alleged,” it said in a statement.
According to the statement, Welshman submitted a complaint to the DPP’s office yesterday afternoon, shortly after midday.
