– owner threatens legal action over ‘false’ newspaper article
The owner of Sleepin Hotel has threatened legal action against the publishers of the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper over an article which appeared in its Thursday, August 17, 2017 edition under the caption: “The Dutch Connection… Sleepin Casino Surinamese partner was jailed for money laundering,” stating that the article is not only sensational but damaged the image of the company and its owner.
Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall
Attorney representing Clifton Bacchus, Anil Nandlall, said the majority shareholder of Sleepin Hotel claimed that the publication has and is likely to cost his client hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and possibly, financial ruination.
The Attorney has since urged the newspaper to issue a public apology to his client, “Giving same equal prominence which the offensive article enjoyed along with a retraction of the said article. The same will certainly be of some mitigating effect in legal proceedings which shall ensue.”
More significantly, the offensive publications, according to the attorney, have significantly tarnished and irretrievably stained his client’s business, as an international hotel. As a result of this, the company may incur further financial damage. Already, cancellations of reservations have begun and are expected to continue, unabated.
“We must also inform you that the aforementioned publications may have also damaged our client’s prospects of being granted a casino licence for which an application has been made and is pending before the relevant authority,” he stated.
In a letter to the media, Nandlall, said the entire meaning, purport and intent of the article was to convey to the reader that Bacchus, his company and their operations are funded and financed from criminal proceeds, more specifically, drug trafficking, money laundering and forgery.
Zeroing in on the details of the article, Nandlall has said information published about his client, his company and its operation being funded by Bhagwandath “Bidjay” Parmasar, whom the article describes as the owner of Yokohoma Trading Company, the parent company of Pasha Global Group, and one of the main players in the setup of the Clifton Bacchus owned Carnival Casino, is false.
Nandall in his missive also claimed that the Chronicle article maliciously and libelously refers to an alleged Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) probe involving his client, which clearly tried to create a nexus between Bacchus and Parmasar’s legal wrangle. This happened although Bacchus has already issued a public statement denying any knowledge of this alleged investigations by SOCU.
“In short, the clear intent of this article is to convey the clear and unequivocal impression that our client and his company are connected to, engaged in, associated with and funded by, illegal monies and proceeds of international crimes,” Nandlall further added. More so, the Attorney said that his client has never received funding from any “Bhagwandath ‘Bidjay’ Parmasar” or any “Yokohama Trading Company” as is alleged in the said article. “Our client’s financing are from Trust Company (Guyana Limited) and Scotia Bank (Guyana), Wide Grace Limited and Global Trading Company Limited. Bhagwandath “Bidjay” Parmasar and Yokohama Trading Company are not directors or shareholders of any of the aforementioned companies,” the statement said.
Additionally, Nandlall said his client has a rental arrangement with Pasha Global Inc, a Guyanese company which is neither owned by nor connected to Bhagwandath “Bidjay” Parmasar.
“We are to further inform you, that the aforementioned damning and defamatory publications have damaged our client’s character and reputation. They have also caused him and his family immeasurable pain, suffering, trauma and public humiliation,” it added.
