Lonsdale Saatchi and Saatchi threatens legal action

Lonsdale Saatchi and Saatchi of Trinidad and Tobago has said it does not intend to have its name put on the sacrificial altar for the political expediency of any party, and is prepared to take legal action if allegations of misconduct continue to be levied.{{more}}

In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, July 27, Executive Chairman of the advertising and marketing company Kenrick Attale said his company has always acted professionally, and offered professional advice and services to the Tourism Authority of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Attale was responding to statements made recently, pertaining to his involvement in a company set up last year by former Minister of Tourism, and current CEO of the Tourism Authority Glen Beache.

In a press conference on Monday, July 18, Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace disclosed that Attale, and Christine James, the financial comptroller of Lonsdale Saatchi and Saatchi, were directors of a company called Lonsdale Advertising and Marketing Communication SVG Ltd set up in May 2010 by Beache.

Lonsdale Saatchi and Saatchi is one of the companies which markets St. Vincent and the Grenadines overseas. They were first awarded the contract in 2006.

Eustace, charging conflict of interest, called on Beache to resign. He also called on Minister of Tourism Saboto Caesar to terminate the contract between the SVG Tourism Authority and Lonsdale Saatchi and Saatchi.

Attale, in his statement said, “In May 2010, Glen Beache indicated that he had no intention of going back into politics at the end of his term of office. He asked if the agency would join with him to provide advertising services to clients in the market of St Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Grenada, under the brand Lonsdale, after he had left office.”

Attale asserted that the company has never traded and it was decided that since Beache was appointed CEO of the Tourism Authority, it would be unethical to trade. He also said given the state of the economy in the Eastern Caribbean, the business “would not be feasible”.

“Lonsdale has always acted professionally and offered professional advice and services to the Tourism Authority of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Lonsdale does not wish or intends to have its name put on the sacrificial altar for the political expediency of any party and is prepared to take legal action if allegations of misconduct continue to be levied,” Attale’s statement ended.

Beache, in a press statement on July 20 said that he had done nothing wrong, but to remove “the necessity to answer those who may seek to be malicious and mischievous in the future”, he had instructed his lawyer to have his company, Lonsdale Advertising and Marketing Communication SVG Ltd., removed from the companies’ register.