“Checko” vs Dr. Philbert Aaron among main matters for Court of Appeal

Dr. Aaron (left) sued “Checko” for alleged defamation

One of the main cases to be dealt by the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is the matter of Abel “Checko” Jno Baptiste vs Dr. Philbert Aaron.

The court commenced it’s sitting in Dominica today, Monday February 13-17, 2017 with a packed list of matters on the Cause list.

On day one of the sitting they will hear Motions/applications to be followed by magisterial criminal appeal against sentence and convictions.

The “Check”/ Dr. Aaron matter is down to be heard on Tuesday February 14, 2017.

In 2013 Dr. Aaron sued ‘Checko’ for defamation after he sang a Calypso ‘Bug her’ and ‘Checko’ failed to enter a defense in the matter.

The court then awarded $130,000 to Aaron. Justice Errol Thomas awarded $75,000 for general damages, $50,000 for aggravated damages and $5,000 for exemplary damages on account of the remix of the song because of Checko’s desire to win the road march title.

A subsequent application to set aside the judgment in default was denied.

Through his lawyer, Singoalla B. Williams case was appealed and it was granted a first adjournment for November 2016.

However on that date Williams was ill and the matter was traversed to February 2017.

Also on the list are magisterial civil appeals, status hearing, high court civil appeals and magisterial criminal appeals.

Fagan John Hope, Kenrick Tyson, Richardson Fontaine, Clement Labassiere, Anselm Drigo, Joseph Senhouse are among those high court criminal appeals against the State.

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11 Comments

  1. CONSCIOUS
    February 14, 2017

    Dominica gained it independence on 3rd November 1978. Anything with QUEEN indicates that though we became independent we are still under the British laws. For 39 years no one see it fitting to upgrade the laws to deal with the social issues of Dominica. Are we really INDEPENDENT?

  2. anonymous2
    February 14, 2017

    This whole thing is ridiculous. Aaron needs to get a life.

  3. LaPlaine Observer
    February 13, 2017

    This is regime engages in suppressing freedom of speech. Once they disagree with you, they sue you, which is a way of silencing the opposition.

  4. Thomian
    February 13, 2017

    If Dr. Aaron suing Checko for “bug her”, why cant Carlisle sue the Comforter for Call I ?
    Only in DA

    • ddd
      February 13, 2017

      Listen to the lyrics before you just belch bubbles

  5. time has told
    February 13, 2017

    I glad. People in Dominica too like to think they can say what they want about people with no repercussions. Even worse they want to make song about people and put all you business outside whether it is true or not. That is natinal passtime. Not sports or dance or none of that nonsesne. IS paypwe and beff. So go ahead Dr. Aaron. Sue him and the Calypso Association because they are also responsible for allowing and encouraging this man, to go on their stage and sing that song. I dont know what Aaron does with himself personally, or otherwise, and i respect that and know that is not my business. Checko and other calypso artists need to respect people also because calypso is a divisive tool that was used against our former master, now we using it against ourselves. And because we love maypwe and gossip we welcome calypso with open arms.

    • Peace
      February 13, 2017

      That’s the bedrock of calypso … it’s social and political commentary. Listen to de Rabbit and other pioneers from back in the days. Now is a whole bunch of soca koshoneee that masquerading as calypso.

      • time has told
        February 14, 2017

        I will pay my big money and go to a soca fete everyday then pay to go calypso tent or calypso finals. Only went calypso twice in my life. both times i left within 30 minutes. pure nonsense. To each his own i say. but that not for me, leave that for the average dominican. time had told you are very right on that. it is an art form used against each other. Social commentary is akin to gossip mongering. just ask checko why his commentaries landed him in trouble.

  6. The Guard
    February 13, 2017

    …….Fagan John Hope, Kenrick Tyson, Richardson Fontaine, Clement Labassiere, Anselm Drigo, Joseph Senhouse are among those high court criminal appeals against the State and the Queen. And the Queen? Which Queen?

    Since we have our head of State and are a republic why have they not dropped this Queen matter?

    • Moii
      February 13, 2017

      I wondered the same thing too. Maybe its the Queen of Sheba

    • anonymous2
      February 14, 2017

      Once under England’s Commonwealth, always under England’s Commonwealth……whenever the Queen chooses. That is why they say that the sun never sets on the British Empire.

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