Tobago Oil Spill: Queensway Group CEO to sue WPA member for libel

Queensway Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Qualander intends to sue member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Kidackie Amsterdam for libellous statements made on a Facebook live broadcast.

Mr. Amsterdam, in a live broadcast on the Kams TV Facebook page, alleged that Mr. Qualander owned the vessel that was involved in the spill off the coast of Tobago. He also accused Mr. Qualander of having political ties.

In an invited comment to the News Room, Mr. Qualander denied ownership of the vessel and any involvement in the incident.

“I have nothing to do with that boat,” he said, adding that he has never been involved in the fuel trade.

Mr. Qualander emphasised that the Queensway Group Inc. is heavily scrutinised and such statements have been causing substantial damage to his public image and that of his company. As such, he intends to sue Mr. Amsterdam because those statements are harming his public image and his business.

He has already engaged his lawyers and intends to file a lawsuit as early as possible.

“I don’t think people can’t just sit down and make these statements… there must be consequences,” he said.

Earlier Wednesday, Mr. Qualander issued a statement distancing himself from the vessel that capsized and began spilling fuel off the coast of Tobago. He did so in response to a Facebook post made by a page named “The Real PPP.”

The Facebook post has since been reported to the Cyber Crimes unit of the Guyana Police Force.