Legal action looms for Canefield Urban Council member

Simeon Albert

The rift between members of the Canefield Urban Council appears to be growing wider with the council’s chairman Simeon Albert threatening legal action against a fellow member.

Albert has dispatched a lawyer’s letter to councilor, Justina James, demanding “a public apology” and withdrawal of statements she reportedly made on a radio station which he claims has defamed his character.

He said if his demands are not met legal action will be taken against her.

The letter, dated July 26, 2012 from attorney Lennox Lawrence on behalf of Albert, alleges that James called a local radio talk show program on March 10, 2012 and made public statements regarding the manner in which the chairman conducts the affairs of the council.

“The Chairman has a habit of changing what he wants on the minutes and that is our problem. Before the minutes goes up to be gazetted, he changes what he wants to change…he comes in and he scrutinizes the minutes and he changes what he wants to change because it has to be gazette information,” James allegedly told the talk show host.

The letter states that the alleged comments made by James naturally and ordinarily meant that, “our client was involved in illegal and corrupt practices at the said Urban Council and further, that his conduct has brought the said Council into disrepute.”

“Your said allegations have injured our client’s reputation and have lowered him in the esteem of the general public,” it states.

The letter is seeking “a withdrawal of the said allegation, a written apology for the malicious, intentional and or reckless act of slander and a publication of the apology both on television and radio media. We further demand reasonable financial compensation to our client”.

It went on to say that if James does not provide “full settlement” of these demands within seven (7) days, “legal action will taken against her”.

When contacted, James said she has received the letter and has passed it on to her attorney, who she said as far as she is aware, has replied. “I have no further comments on the matter … talk to my lawyer,” she added.

DNO is making every effort to reach James’ lawyer on the matter and will provide that information when it becomes available.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

41 Comments

  1. strength
    August 29, 2012

    SIMEON dont u have no shame, leave d people council 4 them. Canefield people are a bunch of wicked and prejudice people. Leave them.

    U are a man it is not the end of the world. I myself leaving in that place it is just guts, no community togetherness. Dont talk about that catholi church – a bunch of hypocretes – they make me sick and want to vomit. 2 years I have not been to mass. I cannot sit in a church with those criminals.

  2. Anon
    August 26, 2012

    facts are stubborn things .the truth is an offence not a sin, therefore with nurse there is no need to worry about this clown.

  3. love
    August 22, 2012

    Government should take over this matter because it is just petty that grown people fighting over nothing. Get a grip.

  4. its the truth
    August 21, 2012

    man just stay away from my granny…..we live by the truth and it sets us FREE.

  5. yardie
    August 21, 2012

    both are my good friends what can i say i wish they could find a solution to this ongoing problem

  6. Stupes
    August 21, 2012

    Too much govt interference. They quoting this section and that section when convenient. legal my big toe.

  7. willy
    August 20, 2012

    Nurse you have our support his time is over ask him ask simeon to go finish all the jobs he have pending and the peoples money

    Because the rug is pulled under his foot he desperate go find a life no more transport no more free lunch u feeling the blunt this is transparent council now.

    you either have to leave with it or Go
    nurse do not give up we are there for you and the rest of the member who have the community heart hold on till the end next term i will be onboard with you all

  8. "O" STRESS!
    August 20, 2012

    I am exhausted find some meaningful work to up lift Cane field, that power play is setting a bad example for the young people some of us so quick to blame.

    • Shameless
      August 21, 2012

      Madam Minister (Glo) please dissolve the council and ban those current serving members from running for re-election. Too much damn roro in that council. Everyone is just so consumed with their own legacy and societal standing that they have turned the council into a children’s playground. Ask for Simeon, he need to stop hiding under the skirt of the PM.

      Assertive, NOT Agressive! :twisted:

  9. Simeon
    August 20, 2012

    :twisted: :lol: :wink: The Council must do the honorable thing… every body must resign. call fresh elections and see who is man/ woman ini canefield… meanwhile, government should review the need for the council. close it down and add it to roseau city council… infact the whole local government sysrtemini dominica should be reviewed and immediate changes made… too much government interference, even drug man in chairman/mayor… magway sa… i think de gulf was close down… but it still open ka mem and is dere bonda que ni bonda… all you do see nothing yet, is not canefield alone…

    • Anonymous
      August 20, 2012

      and for skerrit to do the same thing and install his hench men on the people of canefield nevertheless?

  10. Anonymous
    August 20, 2012

    public statement since March 10,2012 and now you asking the lady for apology? but simeon you were sleeping man? leave that thing alone and move on. cha man

  11. 1979
    August 20, 2012

    YAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

  12. phucet
    August 20, 2012

    Your political career done!!! :-D

  13. August 20, 2012

    This is so pitiful. :cry: :-|

  14. DOMINICA
    August 20, 2012

    That council is just pure politics UWP verses LABOUR!!!!!!!!!

  15. voter
    August 20, 2012

    The way the chairman was elected showed the true picture of politics,if the canefield people had their way simeon would have been in the workshop kicking dust,he said he worked hard for 15 yrs there were 7 councillors who towed his line and they agreed to everything he said and did,now that he has sensible people on council he cannot continue to do the same so he is desperate and will use desperate measures when he fall he is going to fall hard canefield people are fedop

    • real possie
      August 21, 2012

      Hey voter are u and cherry one in the same u guys spell fedop the same way?i thaught its fed up guess thats new thing in DA now let us know.

  16. wey wey wey!!!!
    August 20, 2012

    The writer of this article has no repuation just as the subject of the article., this is simply a letter and article to intimidate the duly elected Members of the Canefield Council, shame!!!!! continue to fight them Nurse James!!!

    • August 20, 2012

      I was thnking the same thing, this is just intimidation. Dont be intimidated Ms. James.That is just the MO of labour party poeratives. sending lawyer letter asking for apology. Utter rubish.Every one with common sense knows that the chairman is corrupt

  17. August 20, 2012

    There is to much going on with this man, i think somthing is not going right. it might be wise if he can take a step back and give it up.

  18. cherry
    August 20, 2012

    Do like the president step down before your term is up the people do not want you they are fedop

  19. pong
    August 20, 2012

    laybar politics style spreading into all organisations, even the churches…
    mi un veya pais

    • Peeping Tom
      August 20, 2012

      :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  20. Really?
    August 20, 2012

    That story is as old as that picture of Simeon. Mwen las epi sa man. Stupes!!

  21. i miss my baby
    August 20, 2012

    I think that Mr. Powell and Mrs james should give Mr. Albert a chance to perform his duties. And stop that biassness,He is doing a good job< i believe that Ms. James and Powell should put all their politics aside and work to develop canefeild,

  22. MAMIZOO
    August 20, 2012

    Seriously. So many other things were said and implied and Simeone choose to hit on the changing of the minutes. There was talk about money issues; the use of the council’s vehicle for personal use and no lawsuit.

  23. MYSTICAL
    August 20, 2012

    You better be able to prove what you said about poor Simeon. :mrgreen:

  24. speaking logic
    August 20, 2012

    weyyyy papa!!!!! dat urban council have too much…send in some persons to investigate…

  25. Doc. Love
    August 20, 2012

    Simeon cannot be paying Lennox Lawrence for legal services.He is aware the length of time these cases take before they reach the judge.If you dont believe me ask your friend Skerrit.Remember the case between Mr. Matt Peltier and Rosevelt Skerrit.In court as I write is the case between Skerrit and Mr. Maynard Joseph which has been sitting in the courts for months,you expect that petty foolishness will reach a judge in this decade.Garson go get all your facts,bring it to the same radio station,matter close.

  26. POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
    August 20, 2012

    This is a blatant threat and we are standing in solidarity with Nurse Justina James. Every system in Dominica is politicized. This was a political appointment and your man-made power is only for a while.

    In the fullness of time your man-made power will crumble by spiritual power!

    We are not afraid by these threats.

    PATIENCE!

  27. Pondera
    August 20, 2012

    Money talks and bull walk. Money is power. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Lord be with Simeon Albert and the Dominica Labour Party.

  28. evenhanded
    August 20, 2012

    The ‘alleger/defamer’ must get his/her basic facts right. Has the Chairman altered the confirmed minutes of the Canefield Urban Council before these are submitted for publication in the Official Gazette?Comments must be based on true facts!If he has, there is sufficient substratum of facts on which adverse comments may be made, and a good defence!

    • Anonymous
      August 20, 2012

      u must be one of those assisting the chairman …………. If DNO would have allowed it i would scan and send copies of documents for publication but i know they wornt so i will leave that alone.

    • Me
      August 20, 2012

      Sounding like a “Tony” to me.
      Simeon and the PM sound like the same kind of people man.

  29. Sandy
    August 20, 2012

    If there is so much going on at the Canefield Urban Council, Why is it that Government cannot change the said chairman? First time I see that…..stuppessssss

  30. rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    August 20, 2012

    financial compensation.hahaha i just knew that would be somewhere on there.

  31. El Presidente
    August 20, 2012

    Politics has us so divided bwoy…alas, for what nuh

  32. LOL
    August 20, 2012

    I am moving to Canefield then i am going to rent some heavy equipment and start digging for this apparent GOLD allu have down there…lol!!!
    One set of people can not be always fighting for no reason so.

  33. MARIGOT
    August 20, 2012

    I truly wonder if this positions was something to talk about what would happen . :cry:

  34. FAIRNESS!!
    August 20, 2012

    I am fed up!! Trust me.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available