[Editor’s note: Insofar as is possible, the pages below have been arranged in chronological order. This pdf lists the pages in numerical order.]
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BB-31-a-22
[Editor’s note: This page is duplicated at BB-31-a-54.]
Conversation between Luckhoo and Karen Layton, October 1, 1977
Conversation between Lionel Luckhoo and Karen, October 1, 1977
Court went all day. He will finish tomorrow.
Bishop (Judge [Aubrey] Bishop) is taking the case quite well.
Lloyd also spoke to Judge Bishop and gave his presentation, as did, Edward, who is Lionel’s nephew.
Bishop (Judge) has already ordered the charges against JJ dropped, as he admitted they were wrong.
Conversation between Lionel & KL on October 2, 1977
He said they concluded the orders made by the judge affecting the child.
After a number of days of arguments and authorities, [Clarence] Hughes will commence his reply on Monday. The judge seemed very favorably inclined when Lionel said he pointed out that a chain was as strong as its weakest link, and then a chain for the creation of the writ of habeas corpus had been tissue thin links which broke under scrutiny.
Points made:
1) Abdication can only be made under the law by the mother, father or guardian and this was not done.
2) One of them would have to swear to show the child was unlawfully detained.
3) There is no affadavit in court by Grace Stoen.
4) Judge Bishop has agreed with us that Grace has not made an affadavit because it had to do with the matrimonial situation between her and Tim [Stoen], and was not relevant to the present situation with John.
5) The affidavit by [Jeffrey] Haas transgressed all laws of affadavits in that he repeated heresays without giving the source of the information, and he said that he believed it.
6) Haas was dishonest in court. There were features that should have been brought to the court’s attention, such as Grace Stoen having come to Guyana, [half line blank] John having been here off and on for 3 years, and the fact that the custody papers were in the hands of Mrs. [Joyce] Touchette.
7) Lionel said they also attacked the service of events which he said must be personal.
8) The return of service was bad by Haas in that he swore the JJ could not be found. He would have to show what efforts had been made to find JJ.
Lionel cited a large number of authorities from the United Kingdom and the Dominions and elsewhere which all confirmed the points he made.
Lionel feels that Hughes is conscious of the weakness of his position and it would not surprise me if they were to capitulate at a later stage. Lionel feels what they are about it is to have a drag on till Oct. 6, and then get the courts in the US to move for contempt against JJ to get an order for his arrest in the US. That order would have no effect in Guyana but it seems to Lionel that TOS should resist the actions being brought by his wife and he could ask for the adjournment of the case by citing the unfitness of Grace.
Since JJ has received no papers, Charles Garry could state it’s not possible to reach him.
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BB-31-a-20
Notes of meeting with Luckhoo, 17/1/78, by unknown author, likely Sharon Amos
Luckhoo meeting 17/1/78
(Re being able to sue Haas for saying PT paid off the judge)
PT is not an official person, so can’t sue
– if said a particular person JJ gave officials money, then could sue, but would need witnesses and would need to show when it was said
– the arrest order of JJ is not stayed tho it is not served
– Re having the case tried in California. He said is a law of form [forum] vs a law of origin. Conflict of laws doesn’t arise if being heard here. But it could be tried there in Calif also, couldn’t hurt. Affidavits are not tenable from the States. If you try it in the states as well as here, could use it as a subsidiary argument that it was tried in US. It isn’t automatic that it would influence the decision here, but couldn’t hurt. Luckhoo doesn’t have the books to research Calif law. Grace filed her affidavit for divorce but it wasn’t look at here as it is Calif. paper tho it had custody awarded in Calif.
– Luckhoo said he doesn’t know when he can fly to Jonestown as he has murder cases he is dealing with, maybe the end of the month
PT being incorporated
– have to register thru the Deeds Registry. No one can bring action against us now/ or could register under “friendly societies” – welfare organizations have limited powers, could sue and be sued.
– Any publishing of statements that Guyana government is corrupt (or taking bribes), by Haas or other people should be brought to Luckhoo’s attention
– could write and make a formal protest with [Guyana Foreign Minister Fred] Wills because of Haas making his statement of corruption to an American official
– Stoens can bring this case up again
– if we want our questions answered, he said to write them out, or our attorneys can write out their questions and he’ll answer them in writing. Then there would be no misunderstandings.
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BB-31-a-18 – a-19
Paula Adams memo on conversation with Luckhoo 23/1/78
Monday, Jan. 23
To: Jim
From: Paula
(Given over radio)
Subject: Conversation with Luckhoo
- He called Monday, January 23 to say that “he couldn’t give details, but it came from the top, that we are not to discuss with anyone, government’s support for us in these custody matters.” He said, “especially not with the Americans and [U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission] Dick McCoy.”
- I told Lionel we never have and that from the start McCoy was saying he was getting involved because he thought government was leaning towards us. I said McCoy is trying to start something to make it difficult for us & that we have never discussed anything with him. Lionel said he explained that we were not doing so, to the man he spoke with, but he said he just wanted us to be careful not to step on the golden goose (or some such anecdote). Lionel was very optimistic and sounded more confident about government’s support and he alluded that it was the Prime Minister he spoke with.
- My various conclusions or opinions are as follows:
A. Cynical – we are being prepared for govt having an “out” I saying we brought it on ourselves. This is a possibility – not a conclusion.
B. US Embassy is using divisive means to reach their results by stating we are bragging about govt support.
C. [Guyana Foreign Minister] Fred Wills has told the PM something about us being difficult
D. Bonnie Mann [Laurence Mann, Guyana’s ambassador to the U.S] has told the PM that we are bragging govt support and perhaps we are being warned to not talk to Mann because of his alliance with the US, or McCoy is telling Mann we bragged govt support and Mann went to the PM
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BB-31-a-13
Meeting with Lionel Luckhoo, February 17, 1978
Sir Lionel 17/2/78 Sharon [Amos], Tim [Carter], Jocyln [Jocelyn Carter]??
– said that it is good if Viola [Burnham, wife of Prime Minister Forbes Burnham] comes to visit in March
– Burnham is going to the US in April/ he told Lionel he had a very tight schedule because soon after the budget he’s going abroad
– Sir Lionel has heard nothing new about the decision
– he still feels we are going to win the first time/ he knows [Guyana Foreign Minister] Fred Wills was always very optimistic
– It involves Judge [Aubrey] Bishop’s personal pride
– if you don’t want to return the child you won’t do it
– don’t tell people out loud of the support you have from the govt – doesn’t know if Wills being out of office will change it
– he can’t comment about Minister Hoyt, he’s his own boss, he took exception that it was suggested that we were the only facility/ “let sleeping dogs lie” if you try to cure a small ailment it becomes bigger (later we found out he was the attorney for Hoyt)
– Hoyt won’t write another letter
– can only advise us on the legal situation not on the political trends
– he has some ideas about Wills resigning, but can’t say
– legally will help you, can’t give you assurances, can’t tell you whom to talk to
– re having him talk to the PM, if you are in difficulties Lionel can help you but can’t be your advocate with the PM without reason/ if you were in a major problem Sir Lionel would go to see him for us
– see the PM only when he calls Sir Lionel not when Sir Lionel wants to see him
– he knows that when the case was beginning before they granted the joint custody (Joyce [Touchette] and JJ) the PM was very favorably interested
– can’t ask the judge when the decision will come/ after 6 mos. then can say his clients are anxious but it isn’t even six mos. yet
– didn’t agree that we should get in touch with Hoyt/ let it ride
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BB-31-a-3
Sharon Amos notes of meeting with Lionel Luckhoo, April 13, 1978
Sharon Amos
Lionel Luckhoo 13/4/78 (Debbie [Touchette], Sharon, Mike [Prokes])
– asked him what would happen if it went against us, what would happen before an appeal/ said we absolutely wouldn’t compromise on this but want to know/ told him we’d rather die than have the child taken etc.
– he said that if they decide against us, he would ask for a stay of arrest orders, nobody ever turns such a thing down/ I asked if it was a legal thing or just precedent/ he said it was precedent/ he’s never known it to fail, it’s granted automatically (I asked a couple of tiems about this)
– regarding the possibility in a loss of the case that the arrest order against JJ could be activated/ he said the case is not against JJ/ it’s Joyce [Touchette] who has been intervened/ JJ is not a party to it and Joyce can always say, “I don’t have the child”
– the Marshall will not execute any orders because the registrar told Luckhoo this
– the court could have acted a long time ago on this if they wanted it activated
– they are stymied (Stoen) as no order is being served
– regarding: could he delay for a long time, the judge/ he said the judge must eventually give a decision/ he should give it before the end of the month but if he doesn’t Sir Lionel could go to the Chancellor [J.O.F. Haynes] or the Chief Justice [Harold Bollers] is something isn’t doen
– if they wanted to do anything, Sir Lionel felt they would do it now but the Registrar said he was told by the Chief Justice not to serve the papers
– regarding possible pressure on the case, he pooh-poohed that/ said “no one has even asked me about the case” it’s “forgotten”
– he said we were unnecessarily concerned
– said re immigration that he doesn’t know about that order to stop John/ Sir Lionel said he himself couldn’t get the info
– first he said that order would have had to come from [Guyana Foreign Minister] Fred Wills/ when I said it might have been recent and come from [Minister of Justice Mohammed] Shahabadeen, he didn’t argue that
– he said “no one is interested in doing anything to hurt you”
– he said he hasn’t seen the PM [Prime Minister Forbes Burnham] in 3 weeks
– he doesn’t think the Stoens will come here
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BB-31-a-4
Deborah Touchette notes of meeting with Lionel Luckhoo, April 13, 1978
Deborah Touchette
April 13, 1978
Lionel Luckhoo
Appt w/ Sharon, Mike [Prokes], Debbie [Touchette]
– Lionel said if the answer was “no”, in favor of Stoen, he will ask for a stay of execution on the arrest order.
– He said the orders are there, they can do anything they want to
– said no, this is not a case against Jim Jones, [Joyce] Touchette has intervened, he doesn’t know how they have an arrest order. Jim is not a party to the child, said [Registrar K.W.] Barnwell won’t give any orders.
– said there was no written law that states he has a limited time to give a decission, but it can be pressured through the registure [registrar].
– Sharon asked if anything could be done if Jim came to G/town and someone saw him who was a rep. of Hass [Stoen attorney Jeffrey Haas], or didn’t like Jim?
– Lionel said nothing could be done. The registure Genereal has been instructed not to serve anything.
– Lionel said he didn’t know about the order of not being able to take the child out, so the order could only have come from [Guyana Foreign] Min. Fred Wills.
– He said “I don’t think there’s anyone out there interested in hurting you in Guyana.
– Sharon ref. to pressure of blackouts, would there be pressure on us?
– I don’t know, I haven’t seen the PM in three weeks, I don’t think so, but I don’t know.
– Lionel said we were making ourselves too important, people weren’t as worried about us as we thought.
OPINION:
Lionel was irritated at the questions asked. I think it’s because he not use [he’s not used] to having his opinion questioned so thoroughly, we ask the same question over again, (out of concern and necissity) and because we don’t pay a greater amount of money he shows impatients in giving us this time. Mike Prokes felt Sharon was too pushy in asking questions, but I don’t feel she was. We wouldn’t have gotton any answers if we didn’t probe. I thought you conveyed concern, but was not confrontative. Mike argued the point a lot, disagreed with me on this. He pointed out that Luckhoo didn’t even say goodbye. (Someone came into the office as we were leaving and Lionel was talking to them and didn’t acknowledge Mike Prokes goodbye) I don’t know if he heard him or not, but I thought we should do something for him, like take him some scotch, or some baked goods to his home because the man was irritated and I don’t think we can afford for him to get hostile against us?
(We didn’t ask the same questions over and over in this meeting, but asked questions that have been asked in previous meetings)
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BB-31-a-8
“Mary Ruth” memo to Jim Jones on Luckhoo, spring 1978
TO: Hill [code name for Jim Jones]
FROM: Mary Ruth [code name for Paula Adams]
1. I think Lionel’s examination of the case is perhaps much more clear than anything we could have given you, however I will add a few of the details I know in case [scribbled out word, either “he” or “we”] left them out.
A. The Prime Minister, [Guyana Foreign Minister] Fred Wills, and the Chancellor of the Judiciary J.O.F. Haynes (top posts in the judicial system) are advising Lionel how to handle the case insofar as Lionel does the research and they say whether it is good enough to present in court. The Prime Minister has called four times according to Lionel to ask how the case was going (which is why I think Lionel has taken such a sudden interest in it). The Chancellor has called him several times but Lio has had to call Wills.
B. The court is going to nullify all of the orders for arrest of child and the rest of you and enter at the same time that Jeffrey Haas is not even qualified to represent the mother [Grace Stoen] as he has no authority. If the Judge which Joyce appeared before on Friday remains hostile, then it will go before the Full Court and if they won’t throw out the orders, then it goes before the Court of Appeal (which is the Chancellor) and he will throw it out. Then Judge Aubrey Bishop asked Minister Wills why he didn’t tell him government was interested. Wills, according to Wills, informed Bishop that whether the government was interested or not, “bad law was bad law.” There is no reason to believe that Judge Bishop will be on our side. If he finally agrees, it will be done quickly; if not it will just take a little longer. It is assured that we will in the case as it stands now.
C. The procedure could be drawn out, however, Wills did indicate that it would be finished before October 6.
D. Wills is keeping a very close eye on the matter. He even knew that Karen [Layton] was waiting outside of the courtroom when Joyce was inside. However, so was [U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission] Richard McCoy and his assistant Dennis Reese [Embassy Vice Consul Dennis Reece].
E. I have enclosed a letter which was sent by Luckhoo to collect fees.
F. Karen has not been approaching Langley at all recently because of two reasons. We ascertained that he really didn’t have any large amount of money that he would be willing to spend on her, and then after getting that message, we stopped. It was very difficult to keep up with that anyway because we didn’t have much spare time. However, to even get some of those outrageous fees canceled would be quite a savings.
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BB-31-a-34
Unsigned memo on Luckhoo, late May 1978
[Editor’s note: Several names in this memo appear to be in code.]
I told him he was defensive [First paragraph too faint to read]
[Handwritten first line, beginning with illegible word] (Show fotos) also Kendra Alexander’s statement
Darryl said Luckhoo didn’t do well for JJ. That is confidential. Tell Luckhoo we don’t believe it. Desmond [Hoyte] said we were the victims of a conspiracy. We don’t know what to believe about [[U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Richard] McCoy because we don’t believe what he said about you but in the second draft he said all matters like Phillip out in favor of the residence were worked out in favor of the residents. It is contradictory. He also said apparently sympathetically, it would be all right as long as the matter didn’t go more than five months. He may have been wanting it done for Stoen, but he said if it was decided within five for JJ, it wouldn’t matter. If it went after five, the club would be interested all over again.
We have still been getting positive reports about John. We were told confidentially by someone important (don’t name their name) in an official position (two of them) that Bunny Mann [Laurence Mann, Guyana ambassador to the US] would work for any side (don’t mention his name). One would do anything for money but in the long run it would make no difference (refer to one as an important elder in Rev. Lucas’s church.) But we did not want to ask any more questions as per your advice. Therefore, we just wanted to see if you still think it’s going the same way. We heard you may get an important position in the government and we just wanted to know if you’ll still be able to handle it because we have the most confidence in you. (It’s the position that Abraham declined.) Play the Dr. Moore tape to him who is a firm believer in God, and would support no one that didn’t believe in God. He held a press conference when he got back.
Bunny Mann said that there were no problems with the DA and thus there would be no problems for JJ’s family. This came as a response to Martha and Rudi’s question that you will stand behind JJ won’t you? So don’t expect unqualified answers but when you’re dealing with a consp.[iracy], even tho they’ve manufac.[tured] nothing for a year, we don’t want our support based on that kind of statement about the DA. We don’t understand why folks of Casanova’s persuasion would be concerned if the DA did not like Casanova’s people (like Jesse). It should be understood that the DA if he ever did attack someone of [illegible word] persuasion, which both Guyana and JJ are, it should be expected for the DA to attack them. We have no info of the DA doing anything, but if he did it would have to be manufactured. And we don’t like support to be conditional and link to the DA’s mood.
I have plenty of [insert word: “powerful”] friends and money and I will take care of Jesse – implication that engineers will do it. Hasan should be told to keep this confidential. This was verified. He said don’t bother with Jordans. We have a pic of Grace and Smitty [Walter Jones] coming out of their home going to work together which should be given to Luckhoo. Show to Hasan because Tim and Grace claim to be together again. TOS wants to get at our $ thru suits. Tell Allison about Peggy’s call and what was implied about mercenaries. TOS said there was an overreaction that they were counting on. He said for instance that they thought that Ellie was working with Peggy (TOS said this to the caller). He said “they’re overreacting.” Peggy did not say one way or another but the implication was that she was not.
[Handwritten line at bottom of page illegible.]
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BB-31-a-37
Memo on needed follow-up, June 78
Things that need to following up:
Lionel Luckhoo: Play interview with John Moore and wife (on cassette). If he says he doesn’t have time to hear it, show him their written statements. Also convey information for him from attached type notes. Be sure 8R3 [Jonestown ham radio call letters] knows that Luckhoo plans to talk to the judge about making the decision, since so much time has passed. (He said this when I asked him if he had heard anything new, just after giving him flowers for his illness.)
Mohamed Hamaludin: Wants his copy of the petition book. I’ve been trying to get an appointment with him first to give him background on the “concerned relatives.” We’ve been putting him off by saying the report was sent into the project for our attorneys to review and our boat hasn’t come back yet. He was asking for a response to it. [Vibert] Mingo, in the meantime asked him why he was doing this. Hamaludin then asked us why we told Mingo about it. He said Mingo came to him and asked him why he was harassing us. It evidently had its effect because at that point he said he had not decided whether he was going to do a story about it. Up until then he said he wanted to do a story that gave both sides. We said that would cause people to have doubts about us because some people are always prepared to believe the worst. He disagreed with that and so we went into a 10 minute harangue to try to convince him that what we were saying was true. He didn’t defend his decision after that, but we still don’t know, at this point, what he intends to do. Tell him no socialist or black press took it (the petition) seriously. They have given us article after article that has been positive. Show him the State dept report where is says people are not being held against their will. Make him think he would be playing into the hands of a reactionary element that automatically attacks socialist groups and persons who live in the US. Ask him how he can presume to write an article without seeing what we are doing in our community.
Find out what to tell Tufail, if anything. Do we follow Eric Clarke’s advice?
When Dr. Baird gets back, ask him what has to be done for us to be able to perform autopsies if someone dies in our community.
Ask Dr. Harry at Ministry of Health on Brtickdam what forms Joyce [Touchette] must fill out for ‘78 registration. Can we get them from her to take in to Joyce?
Council of Church Board meeting at St. Andrews Church – 9:30. We haven’t been attending lately. It’s quite possible that the referendum will come up. Do we want to send someone or play it safe?
What do we tell D’Costa about Debbie B. He’s asking for her address?
Does Terry Carter have a book that the D’Costa’s gave her. The daughter would like it back since it doesn’t belong to them.
Follow-up with Charles Hines, Nurse Noel and her assistant regarding situation with Joyce dispensing in Port Kaituma.
For Sunday 11th meeting in Kitty where PM will be speaking. How much do we get involved. Do we help get people out. Do we put the poster on our house as was requested. How visible should we be at the rally?
Call Prime Minister’s Office and see if there is a response to the attached letter re: the protest petition we propose to send to certain countries. The petition was sent with the letter.
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BB-31-a-23
Conversation between Luckhoo, Sharon Amos and Maria Katsaris, July 31, 1978
[Editor’s note: Several names in this memo appeared to be in code.]
Lionel Luckhoo
31/7/78
Sharon, Maria
We only talked to him for a few minutes. He agreed to write the letter to Iverson requesting that he get TOS to take a paternity test. He said he has never received a reply to the last letter he wrote him. We asked if he had heard anything more about the case and he said no, but that he had talked to Frankie and asked him to talk to Terrence about it. He thinks this is the only way anything is going to get done. Sharon asked him if he thought Frankie would actually talk to Terrence about it and he said yes. Luckhoo said Rudolph is a very irresponsible person and he does not like the way he handles things. He had just gotten back to his office from court where Rudolph had said he was going to give a decision on another case and then did not do it. He said he does not like the man.
Ray Fernandz said that there is going to be a very severe food shortage because farmers are refusing to replant. He said he is glad that we are getting to be self-sufficient because food is going to be very scarce. Even now, things are very hard to get and there are long lines to get certain items like split peas. The other day there was a near riot as people were waiting to get split peas. The name of each person who purchases split peas and the amount they buy has to be turned into the Ministry of Trade because they have become a black market item.
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Sharon Amos notes of meeting with Lionel Luckhoo, August 12, 1978
BB-31-a-7
Sharon Amos
Lionel Luckhoo Meeting with him 12/8/78 Maria K. [Katsaris] and Sharon
– he said he was disgusted with Judge [Aubrey] Bishop because he handled the case the way he did
– he said he’s always told us as a matter of law we can’t lose tho in the beginning decision he thought we would lose
– but he felt that Bishop was embarrassed to say he made a mistake and in court has said that the attorneys were not at all in fault but that he had received influence from abroad/ letters, phone calls and so he was going to send it back to the Chief Justice
– Lionel said if he was going to do this he could have done it long ago instead of waiting six months because now the case has to start all over
– he said it is assine [asinine], unlegal and purine??? because the judge can’t admit he was wrong
– he said the whole thing now goes over from the beginning
– I asked if he could ask Bollers how long it would take/ he said he couldn’t do that but if JJ goes out of the country for medical care then he ask Bollers
– he said JJ should go right away out of the country for medical care/ there is nothing that the govt would do to harm him and he shouldn’t wait
– he said JJ could even come to Georgetown
– I said we were waiting for some kind of written assurances from the govt/ as we had gotten verbal assurances but we had thought that might be why they were doing the decision
– regarding the case being sent back to the Chief Justice/ it would be for re-assigning it, but when I asked if Bollers would take the case/ he said maybe Bollers would take it himself
– he said Bishop has botched this up more than he could believe in that he has delayed so long and now won’t give a decision
– I was wondering what our relations should be with Bollers as I am afraid if [asttorney Clarence] Hughes hears we see Bollers socially he might say Bollers shouldn’t be on the case.
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BB-31-a-9
Undated memo on Lionel Luckhoo from Paula Adams
TO: JIM
FROM: PAULA
COMMENT ON LUCKHOO
1. I think we were dooped [duped] by Luckhoo over this Mazaharally issue. Luckhoo had told us that [Deputy Prime Minister Ptolemy] Reid has said that we were not to be touched which is exactly what Clarke is saying that Reid said. Then later Luckhoo who had told us this and who was also the legal representative for Mazaharally said that we had to settle or they would get another lawyer and take it to court. He advised that we settle and we did.
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BB-31-a-10
Undated memo on Lionel Luckhoo by unknown author, likely Sharon Amos
LUCKHOO Monday (this week)
– said that he didn’t know where we’d get blood tests etc. for Jim to prove paternity, we’d have to call the pathologist (we’ll do that)
– he said if we wanted to sue re Bedford trucks (apparently you really didn’t mean trucks I wanted to know about suing a newspaper so we’ll have to ask again), we’d have to go to England and get a lawyer, he couldn’t recommend one/ or we could give a report here to the British High Commission
– he said that in the press now wouldn’t have any affect on the case
– he has heard nothing about the case
– regarding the PM and seeing him in the US, the PM didn’t say anything about seeing us/ Luckhoo just has the feeling, he’d be easier to see if someone from the US contacted him when he was in the US, but we shouldn’t try to set it up here/ Luckhoo could tell us when PM leaves for the US
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BB-31-a-11
Undated memo on Lionel Luckhoo “talk” by unknown author, likely Sharon Amos
LIONEL LUCKHOO TALK
– Joyce’s contest is based on the Father contesting it; it will be difficult to hold the child without the legal father’s consent.
1 – they cannot make headway if the child is in Guyana and not where service is accessible or with the cooperation of the government so no papers can be served.
2 – unless there is service they can do nothing
The Registrar, Chief Marshall has no intention of serving the papers without telling us.
– we are buying time which could work for 2, 3, 5 years
– adoption is the only thing that is irrevocable.
3 – Luckhoo feels that TOS [Timothy O. Stoen] should the contest action up North, otherwise they are going to be giving custody to the mother by default.
– [U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Richard] McCoy told Luckhoo that he had visited our project and found it satisfactory and that he was reporting that the Washington. He said adverse publicity has caused some of our problems. His attitude w/ Luckhoo was that he was not interfering on their behalf. (Obviously we don’t know that, in fact it looks the other way)
– Luckhoo has read the Observer and Newsweek stories on us.
Elements in the case that are in our favor:
-1 she has sworn to no affidavit here
-2 Hass [Haas] has not shown authority or even that he is really her attorney
-3 he has filed no power of attorney here although he had some paper on her behalf
-4 His affidavit is pointless – mother, father???
-5 The affidavit is inadmissible – hearsay
-6 There can be no substitute service in this case
-7 no legal service has been made
Hughes knows he has not followed the procedure. He wanted Luckhoo to go to the States so that he could get paid more. He did not elaborate on this point and just implied Hughes was out for a buck.
Basis of our case is that we are holding on to a valid custody documentation.
– asked about if she had rescinded it – then we are depending on the father
– technically since both signed it, both should rescind it
– if she goes x-partie [ex parte], the court may award her provisional custody
If Grace this absolute custody and rescinds her order
– Grace could get a habeas corpus here against Joyce and JJ
– the papers will not be served
– we are buying time as they could come back again and again
Luckhoo suggested someone to buy her out.
– he says if you pay her, to make sure it is traceable. I didn’t understand all the reasoning behind this and would have to discuss it further if we decided to do this.
– he suggests communicate to her: JJ of course is the father, and he will fight to the end. If you want a major skirmish here or there, keep it up. We will go public on everything – mentioned a legalistic concept of blackmail (he says – keep the threat of going public as an ace use it.) In other words don’t go public until we have tried this as leverage on her.
– you should adopt if that occasion is ever possible, say they will make an unholy stink about it
– Hughes does not know the paternity of the child
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BB-31-a-12
Undated memo on Lionel Luckhoo by unknown author, likely Sharon Amos
LUCKHOO
– said Hoyt [Minister of Development Desmond Hoyte] is a good lawyer, very cleaver
– he has a good reputation with the government
– he said legally you have a perfect case, unlikely the judge will have the courage to change the situation/ in the meanwhile you can do nothing
– Luckhoo said he himself is not a member of govt or in any way associated with govt.
– Luckhoo said he spoke to [Guyana Foreign Minister Fred] Wills and Wills is a strong supporter of PT, he said that he believes our relationship with Reid is good (Wills told Luckhoo this several times before the article was written)
– we should write for an appt with Hoyt
– your position is not any different (dispite Wills resigning), the govt has permitted you to come to Guyana and stay
– when told we could never give up the child, he said – then don’t, if you take the child across the border, the govt wouldn’t do anything, he didn’t think
– he said Hoyt situation, you can do nothing by belaboring the issue
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