Dear Editor,
The headline of the Tuesday May 30, 2017 edition of Kaieteur News screams in bold coloured letters: ‘Senior Customs official ordered BK’s vehicle released’ and refers the reader to page 7 of the said edition, whereon a photograph of me as “Head of Customs Enforcement arm” along with Brian Tiwarie and an SUV appeared in juxtaposition under the aforesaid headline.
Stripped of its esoteric connotations and sensationalism, the article was calculated to mean that I, as a senior customs official was less than professional in the discharge of the duties and responsibilities attached to my office, which could not be further from the truth. Upon reading the article and seeing the accompanying photographs, the reasonable man/average reader is propelled to the almost inevitable conclusion that I have been influenced by extraneous considerations in the discharge of my duties and, therefore, I am not a fit and proper person for the office which I hold. As a result I have been subject to ridicule, odium and contempt in the eyes of ordinary right-thinking persons in society resulting in, inter alia, substantial loss and damage to my unblemished character and credibility.
Needless to say, KN would be put to strict proof of their assertions and allegations contained in the said article should this issue be ventilated elsewhere.
Yours faithfully,
Fitzroy Corlette