Minister within the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill yesterday morning denied a media report that he changed his name several years ago after being fingered in the murder of a man.
“At no time at all in my life have I ever been accused of, charged with or associated with the death, murder, manslaughter or any such thing of anyone. I have always lived my life in keeping with my faith and belief and Christian principles”, he said during a press conference in his office to “state the facts and put it to rest once and for all”.
For years rumours have been circulating that Edghill had killed a man and later changed his name to hide his link to the incident.
He said that in 2011 he was forced to file legal proceedings in the High Court after he was the subject of libel and slanderous statements which were made during a programme which had been broadcast on Channel Six. “To my amazement this morning …I see in the Kaieteur News a publication of the very same statements…” he said. The publication he was referring to was “Dem boys seh…Nuff scamps deh pun de list’.
Edghill, held up a copy of his birth certificate which was issued in 1989 which listed his name as “Juan Anthony Edghill”, the son of Juanita Edghill and his date of birth as December 25, 1964. His father’s name was not listed and he later said that his parents were not married.
Describing the document as his “original” birth certificate, he said that he could not have had a name change when he is still known by those names.
“I have never used any other name.
Have never been called by any other name and all my life I have been known as Juan Anthony Edghill…” he said, adding that the facts of his non involvement in the things that he is being accused of can be easily verified with those in his fellowship and those who know him.
“Colleagues I find it to be offensive, derogatory, malicious, wicked, vindictive and it is designed to distort, to defame and to ridicule me because of my political affiliations and associations”, he stressed while calling on the Kaieteur News to retract the statements made.
He said if the production of his birth certificate is not enough to convince the public of his innocence, “I don’t know what is sufficient”.
He also urged the media to inquire with the police, prisons, his associates and ministry in attempts to get to the truth and to verify what he is saying.
“This lie must be debunked and it must not be allowed to continue to be peddled…when you defame my name it is gone and I will always defend my name and reputation”, he said.
