Via his attorney, PPP/C candidate Charles Ramson Jr has denied that he defamed international cricketer, Chris Gayle.
Ramson Jr was sent a lawyer’s letter on February 4th on behalf of Gayle, who has asked that he retract statements made about him at a political campaign meeting.
Ramson’s statements, which concern a visit made by Gayle to Linden during the People’s National Congress Reform’s celebration of its 62nd anniversary, were made at a January 30th public meeting at Alberttown. The party is the main constituent of governing coalition partner APNU.
Ramson shared and endorsed on his personal Facebook page an online news item on the meeting.
However, in a letter dated February 4th, attorney Roysdale Forde, writing on behalf of Gayle, directed that Ramson should within 24 hours retract the “defamatory” statements, which are “not only totally false and untrue but seem calculated to subject [Gayle] to ridicule and portray him as being paid by a political party in Guyana to engage in work on its behalf.”
“As you are aware my client is an internationally recognized personality and cricketer and has carefully protected his brand and reputation especially by refusing to engage in public relations activities at the request of political parties,” the letter stated, before adding that Gayle has engaged in a number of business ventures in Guyana, such as the promotion of a number of entertainment events, branded on his personality and persons in Guyana.
“Your statements are injurious to the financial success of these events and by extension necessarily to the said business undertaking of my client in Guyana and worldwide,” the letter concluded.
In a letter of today’s date, attorney Sanjeev Datadin replied to Forde on Ramson Jr’s behalf.
He wrote: “I am instructed to inform you that, in any event, my client as presently advised does not accept any purported statement made by him in relation to your client is defamatory as you have alleged”.
Datadin further went on to say that despite Forde’s letter having been made public Ramson Jr has not received it.
On behalf of Ramson Jr, Datadin also went on to say that Forde’s client’s presence at a political party’s Anniversary celebration with pictures being taken with the political party’s executives, leaders and members wearing their political party colours “does call into question his denial of being associated with a political party which is still using pictures of his image from his presence at the Anniversary event on their Facebook page under a picture of David Granger with a slogan re-elect David Granger”.
Datadin added: “Finally, out of sheer deference of my client’s admiration for your client as one of our greatest cricketers of all time but not admitting any liability, a copy of this letter to the press (by Forde) is now appropriate, since he regards his reputation, like that of your client’s, the Universe Boss, to be important to him. I am instructed to inform you that, in any event, my client as presently advised does not accept any purported statement made by him in relation to your client is defamatory as you have alleged”.
In October last year, Gayle visited the mining town in the company of party executive Joseph Harmon and several other party officials. He, however, maintained that he was simply participating in a community outreach and visiting a part of the country he had not been to before.
“I in no way, manner or form endorse or support any individual or political party in Guyana,” he said in a statement released days after the visit.
Referring to social media comments in relation to his presence in Linden, Gayle said that invited to Linden to participate in a community outreach.
“As a sports personality, I relish the opportunity to meet with my fans and also to reach out to any community under the neutral banner of sports. I am apolitical of any political commitment and strongly condemn attempts to tarnish my brand and personality,” he reiterated.