The disclosure of a 2019 Special Branch report accusing Government minister Foster Cummings of wrongdoing has forced the minister and his family to seek help from a professional therapist in the face of cyberbullying from people who believe the claims.
Cummings' lawyers made the claim in a lawsuit filed against UNC senator Jayanti Lutchmedial on Friday, and accused her of putting the minister's life at risk, and his family at risk of acts of violence based on allegations that he had "dealings with a reputed drug dealer and leader of a gang."
The lawsuit which also lists the Express newspaper, its editor in chief Omatie Lyder and journalist Anna Ramdass as defendants, is seeking to prevent the republication of the allegations, as well as an order directing Lutchmedial and the newspaper to remove the offending posts from Facebook and the online article from all of its platforms. A list of all the Facebook comments is attached to the lawsuit to support of the claims the minister's claims. The Express has since removed the offending articles from its online platforms without prejudice to discussions between lawyers.
Lutchmedial's Facebook post on May 11 challenging Cummings to bring on the lawsuit was also cited as repeating false claims of alleged wrongdoing.
Cummings' lawyers said that the Special Branch report "does not represent any final finding of fact which can be relied on by anyone" and have written to the acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob on May 11, seeking to verify its authenticity.
In that letter, his lawyers said, "Our client was and is still unaware of any criminal investigation into himself. If indeed our client is being investigated we also wish to enquire as to the status of same. Our client has instructed that should the investigations be ongoing, he remains readily available to co-operate with the police service in pursuit of its mandate."
[caption id="attachment_954694" align="alignnone" width="1024"] UNC Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial disclosed a 2019 Special Branch report on Government MP Foster Cummings at a political meeting on May 5. - ANGELO MARCELLE[/caption]
The letter also sought "a reasonable explanation" from the acting CoP as to how a "highly confidential document" came into the possession of Lutchmedial, if it is authentic and what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of such a leak.
The day after the July 19, 2019 report, signed by ACP Pamela Schullera-Hinds, then head of Special Branch, was made public Jacob said it was authentic and had been provided to then CoP Gary Griffith. He said then the allegations against Cummings were being investigated as well as the leaking of the report.
Cummings on Saturday said he has provided all of the "evidentiary facts" to the Prime Minister to counter allegations of wrongdoing raised in the Special Branch report exposed on a UNC platform.
He was speaking at a meeting to assist farmers in Wallerfield where he responded to queries on the issue.
Cu
