Minister Anand Persaud to sue ‘Big Smith’ over article implicating him in Top Cop, Brutus probe

L-R: Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud

Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, has announced his intention to take legal action against Big Smith News Watch after an article allegedly implicated him in orchestrating a plan to have the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) intensify its probe into Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus.

In a letter dated October 14, 2024, Minister Persaud, through his attorney Sanjeev Datadin, asserted that the allegations made in the article are “utterly false and without merit.”

“We are instructed that your article is part of a series of publications intended to influence public opinion regarding the revelations made about senior members of the Guyana Police Force,” the pre-action letter stated.

The letter further emphasised: “My client has no information regarding these public revelations and is in no way involved, as you have alleged, or at all.”

According to the letter, Big Smith News Watch made “no attempt” to seek a comment from the Minister prior to publishing the article.

“You have selectively used technically vague language with clear and damaging intent,” the letter added.

Attorney Datadin noted that the article has caused significant harm to Minister Persaud’s ability to fulfil his public duties. As a result, the Minister is demanding an unconditional apology and retraction by Big Smith News Watch, to be agreed upon and issued no later than October 16 at 14:00 h.

“Given the gravity of the false allegations and the audience to which your article was distributed via Facebook and WhatsApp, my client is entitled to substantial compensation, along with reasonable legal costs, in addition to an apology,” the letter stated.

Big Smith News Watch, run by journalist Leroy Smith, published an article titled “Text from Gov’t Min Exposes Plot to Have SOCU Target Top Cop Brutus.”

The article, which has garnered over 3,000 views, not only implicated the sitting government minister but also questioned the impartiality of SOCU’s Head, Assistant Commissioner of Police Fizal Karimbaksh, in conducting a fair probe.

Assistant Commissioner Brutus is under investigation by SOCU over allegations of financial impropriety.