Former city mayor Ubraj Narine has filed a $200 million libel suit against the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, which he says has defamed him through a number of untrue articles it published.
And he said that while the Chronicle issued an apology in relation to one of the offending articles he complains of, his contention is that that apology “was neither full and or appropriate.”
In his suit against the newspaper and its now former Editor-in-Chief Tajeram Mohabir, Narine says that in August of this year, articles were published attacking his competence and falsely accusing him of encouraging breached contracts.
Narine said that at no time was he ever involved in any illegal activity to which the article made reference; adding that he was not incompetent, nor has he ever misled the Council.
He said that his personal and professional reputation and standing have “been irreparably and severely damaged,” while going on to state further that from all indications, the publications seemed calculated to affect him as politician and a leader in the community and country.
The former Mayor is of the view that the stories were published with the aim of lowering him in the estimation of right-thinking persons.
He argues through his attorney Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, that the natural meaning of the words he has complained of, would convey to the reasonable reader that he was involved in criminal and illegal activities and practices.
Among other things, he said that readers would think that he was unfit to be Mayor and a religious leader, was dishonest and therefore could not be trusted and was a liar.
Narine deposed in his statement of claim that because of the untrue publications, he and his family “have suffered and continue to suffer financial injury, constant grave distress, humiliation, embarrassment, indignity, pain and suffering.”
He said that the offending statements “have no basis in fact, are malicious, grossly inaccurate and intended to deceive the public;” while adding that his reputation and character have been impugned and brought into disrepute.
Narine declared that his “reputation is crucial to his career” and that his entire profession has been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt, because of what the Chronicle has falsely published about him.
Narine is seeking exemplary and aggravated damages.
Should his claim succeed, he is also asking for interest at a rate of 6 % per annum to be paid on any sum awarded, from the date of filing to the date of judgment and thereafter at a rate of 4% per annum from the date of judgment until fully paid.
He is also hoping for costs and any further order the Court deems just to grant.
