Daryan Warner, son of Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, has threatened to sue Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul- Hamid for libel and slander. Warner's attorney, Om Lalla, sent a pre-action protocol letter to Hamid yesterday, seeking among other things, an apology and substantial damages for the slander. In his letter, Warner claimed that on April 17, at a People's National Movement (PNM) political meeting in Cunupia, and attended by members of the public, Abdul-Hamid spoke words which were defamatory of him. He said the defamation was compounded by a publication in the Trinidad Express newspaper.
Warner contends that the statements uttered were understood to mean that he was engaged in criminal activity, that he was dishonest, corrupt and disreputable. He said the words uttered by the Minister were done in an effort to secure political advantage for himself and the PNM. Warner is asking Abdul-Hamid for a full apology to be published in all three daily newspapers and on the Internet Web sites. He is also seeking substantial damages for injury to his reputation and feelings. If the minister fails to respond within 21 days, Warner has instructed his attorney to file the action in court.