The Tribune

THE Office of the Prime Minister’s Communications Director, Latrae Rahming, has filed a legal complaint with the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) against radio talk show host Darren Cooper over what he calls a series of false and defamatory claims linking governing MPs to drug trafficking.

The complaint stems from a recent broadcast during which Sylvens Metayer, a US-based man who considers himself as a whistleblower, called into the Grand Bahama programme and made a series of allegations related to the arrest of Eric Gardiner.

Mr Gardiner was allegedly carrying $30,000 when rescue teams reached him and ten other survivors of a plane that crashed off Florida’s coast on Election Day.

A US affidavit linked to his arrest alleges that an unnamed politician's name was handwritten on the envelope containing the cash.

The affidavit further claims that the same politician also met inside the House of Assembly with individuals believed to be members of a drug-trafficking cartel.

In a statement released on Friday, Mr Rahming referenced several "offending" on-air statements, including claims that Prime Minister Philip Davis was "Politician-1" and that a sitting Cabinet minister was romantically involved with Gardiner.

The allegations were made by Mr Metayers, who also accused the government of corruption and of assisting companies involved in drug trafficking to launder money.

However, Mr Rahming rejected the claims, saying: “Each of the foregoing statements is false, is gravely defamatory of the named public officials and was broadcast as fact to a wide listening audience,” Mr Rahming wrote.

Mr Rahming further accused the show of breaching broadcasting standards by violating requirements and said the licensee bears responsibility for content carried on its service.

He said the allegations were harmful, misleading and capable of undermining public confidence in national institutions.

“The broadcast levelled serious allegations of criminal conduct against named individuals without affording them any opportunity to respond, contrary to the fairness obligations applicable to licensed broadcasters,” he added.

“The broadcast of unverified allegations imputing serious criminality to the Head of Government and a Member of Cabinet is materially harmful, is liable to mislead the public, and is capable of undermining public confidence in national institutions.”

He argued the matter was not an isolated incident and contended that the programme has previously been the subject of concerns over the broadcast of unverified and inflammatory content.

He said the recurrence of such conduct warrants the authority's formal attention and intervention.

Mr Rahming called on the authority to investigate the matter and determine whether the broadcast breached broadcasting standards.

If violations are found, he urged the regulator to take appropriate action, including ordering the licensee to air a correction and apology, along with any other measures needed to prevent a recurrence.

Mr Rahming said the complaint filed doesn’t mean that the Prime Minister or the cabinet minister involved or the Office of the Prime Minister cannot take separate legal action, such as suing for defamation.

“We are prepared to provide the full transcript, supporting materials and any further particulars the Authority may require,” he added. “Given the gravity of the allegations and the continuing reputational harm, we respectfully request that this matter be treated as one of urgency.”