In defamation suit, Agri. Minister sues Opposition Leader for $5M

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has filed a $5M lawsuit against Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton.

It follows accusation made by Norton on social media that Mustupha is involved in corruption at his ministry which involves the smuggling of chicken into Guyana from Suriname.

In his Statement of Claims, Zulfikar said the words published in a December 2, 2023 post as a “press statement” has caused damage to his reputation as well as “considerable” distress and embarrassment.

The post titled “Breaking News; Minister of Agriculture and other officials in the ministry accused of major corruption” was published on the APNU/AFC Opposition Facebook page which has 134,000 followers.

“The words in their natural and ordinary meaning meant and were understood to mean that the caimant (Mustapha) and others were directly involved major corruption, to with, the smuggling of truckloads of chicken into Guyana from Suriname,” Mustapha lawyers noted in the statement of claim.

“Further, it is understood to mean the claimant and others have directed police officers to ignore the illegal smuggling and to allow the truckloads of chicken into Guyana despite same being illegal. It is understood to also mean the Guyana Police Force has an investigation ongoing into the said truckloads of chicken coming into Guyana illegally and that investigation in being improperly interfered with and/ or interrupted under the direction of the claimant,” the statement further noted.

Through his attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, Mustapha maintains that the words contained in the statement are “utterly” false and without “any foundation in reality, real or imaginary”

As a result of the statement made, Mustapha said a statement was issued by his Ministry, refuting the “false” and “malicious” claims.

The ministry’s statement was accompanied by exhibits of the documentation establishing the legality of the importation of chicken from Suriname.

As a result, through his lawyer, Mustapha is also hoping that the court will grant an injunction restraining Norton from further publishing similar defamatory statements.

He is also seeking an order for Norton to removel all social media posts which contain the defamatory words from the Facebook page of the APNU+AFC Coalition.

Further, the Minister is seeking another order directing Norton to retract the statements and apologise to him.