Leader of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Lennox Linton, has filed a defense in the alleged “rapist ministers” matter, in response to a lawsuit by ministers of cabinet in the Roosevelt Skerrit-led administration.
The defense filed by J. Gildon Richards, Linton’s attorney, pleads “truth, fair comments, public interest and qualified privileges.”
In the defense, Linton is not denying the publication of the words complained off. However, he denies that the allegations made therein were either false or were made in “reckless disregard as to whether they were false or not.”
According to the documents, obtained by DNO, Linton “honestly believed that the statement complained of constituted fair comment on a matter of public interest published on an occasion of qualified privilege.”
“The defendants deny that they should be restrained from bringing to the larger public notice, the unchallenged allegations of grave misconduct by ministers of government who allegedly misuse their offices and the State’s resources in the manner and or for the purpose mentioned in the particularized statement complained about,” the documents stated.
They went on, “The 1st Defendant also believed that by extraction or attempt to extract sexual service or favour from girls and women who sought and or obtained public assistance, the ministers who engaged in that conduct converted the public assistance into a form of payment for sexual engagement with those unfortunate girls and women.”
The documents also outlined a report dated June 19, 2013, filed at the Roseau police station by a young lady (name withheld), who was seeking assistance from a minister of government. They noted that when the young lady went to the minister’s home at 12:15 hrs, he tried to force himself on her.
“In these premises, the defendants will urge the court to dismiss the claim and refuse the damages and other relief sought by the claimants in the claim form and in the statement of claim,” the documents stated.
Speaking at the UWP “Youth In IT Too” rally at St Joseph recently, Linton referred to alleged activities by ministers as rape and noted that there is no honor in a government who harbors them.
“There can be no honor in a government that harbors rapist ministers and upholds extortion of sexual services from young people seeking the facilitation of ministers to get personal development assistance from the public purse,” he said.
Linton was asked to retract the statements and he was subsequently sued for $1-million by all 18 ministers of government for defamation.
Your day in court is there and boy boy you will go down linton get ready for this big one just before election you are going to be down and out
Its might difficult to separate the Church from the state moreso these days. The corruption is in both institutions and not getting any better. Look state flooding church with $$$ church has to support state. Ministers can still take communion (even if I would be the first to agree this is BS.
Its all about the Money the fornification all the so call sin which is what makes DA like therest of the world go round.
Corruption spins Da round round round. Dead or alive 1985.
Lol
Sweet water houses started sprining up in Posse then Roseauetc all kinds of guys began to show up on posse married single and in betweens. see how many hundred visas were issued for certain nationaliites?
That general knowledge to us and civic for our youth they are checking all the vibes the ej from our good citizens and denizens alike. ministers are accused opposition alike priest pastor you me?? not sure about that one, maybe inmy dreams or like danny wish but not carried out my thoughts. lol maybe I should confess but by those priests? nuh pastor? nah.
I’ll keep my sin to myself don’t confess just keeping my fingers crossed they don’t find out LL will not sell me out bc I doh have party.
Rape in a wider sense does not always imply sexual domination. One can be raped of their dignity and integrity. This lawsuit is quite foolish as his statement can be translated in various ways. If he loses then the courts need to examined because they will most certainly not be serving the interests of the general public. It will begin to seem that they are being controlled to serve the interests of a certain few that probably line their pockets with bribes.
Gov’t ,opposition bloggers lok a bunch of sickos on the island DA is done.
this so called lady knew exactly what she was doing….if she went for assistance as she claimed why did she go to his home…going to his home as mentioned made it a personal matter.. that has nothing to do with minister…
No matter what you try boy, you cannot call anybody a rapist unless they were accused, investigated, charged, tried and convicted.
That’s our legal system and being on a political platform cannot usurp this.
As always Lennox mouth is too fast for his own good. In the public domain, referring to someone as a rapist without concrete proof or without that person having been proven in the courts as a rapist is a serious offence. And this is where Lennox always goes wrong – he always speaks to early. Even if young ladies were to come forward in defense of his statement it will not carry much weight if they of their own did not take these matters to the police or to the court. And even so, complaints are not enough to convict someone to the point where one can publicly label him/her as a rapist.
Again, Lennox, think before you speak.
there ccj officials start making bobol already see what happen inTtrinidad
Linton called the DLP ministers rapists. He also said that the PM harbors them. This is what the case is about.
Linton, the power of your tongue gave you away and condemned you. You were impressing those listeners and doing your utmost to demean the PM and his ministers so that they will conclude that you are a better person to lead the country. Such tactics with disparaging words against the PM and his ministers will not work.
Do not try with your attorney to turn it around saying that this is in the interest of nationals. Big deal! You will have a lot of proving to do. You will pay for this.
All of you who support Linton, ask yourself, if it were you or any members of your family Linton directed his words at, what would you say and what would your reaction be? Be just people.
i find the statement to be a general one, not pointed at the dlp specifically, it is the guilt that has them attacking linton…as they say who the cap fits
@The Facts Why would A MORALLY an intellectually depraved individual like you want to be a jury and a judge on Lintons case?.. Go buy some grbage bags and spew your filth in it..This garvage and virus filled crap is certainly not fitting to be on this medium. WICKED SOUL!
What about the guy labelled as a minister steering at my bams so hard. I could see the lust, and that is a sin. To lust is just as much a sin as actual sex. Ask a pastor, ask a priest, and is tantamount to psychological rape. And you think he is the only one. What a cabal. What a Dominica. No wonder they are allowing Jah Cure to perform in Da. A non-apologetic rapist.
I mean really . . really . .have we accepted this . . Linton just had the guts to say what everybody knows or knew . . . . .I am a dad now, have sisters too . .I will vote wisely or God will punish me.
Defence? Hope you have affidavits from all the victims and the convictions to show.
not necessarily … there are instances where one can be called a rapist without being convicted of the crime e.g STATUTORY RAPE-the act on having sexual intercourse with someone who is unable to consent to sex…..the age of consent in Dominica is 16yrs…. for their sake lets hope that NONE of the signatories to that law suit are guilty of that offense……………….??????
You make zero sense. Wheel and come gain!
SIMPLE!!!!!! THAT IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO COMMENT!
Why retract and ask the court to refuse the damages seek by the claimants? I hope he have those girls come forth with their statements and have solid proof. You cannot just make statements and claims without evidence or your own eyes see. These men get tooooooo deep into politics to bring everyone’s dirty clothes into a business that continues to destroy relationships and friendships instead of uniting a country so divided!
@huh It would take a fool like you to believe that the corrupt cabal will want a case of this nature to reach the court. It would really bring them down to ground zero, because presently, trust me they are just one level above ground zero..
I Love Lennox Linton and Team Dominica.
Workerssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
This wilkl go nowhere. IT WILL EMBARRASS THE Greedies.
Can’t wait for this corrupt crew in this Labour Party to vacate office. They have cheated and failed all, especially the poor.
Lennox you talking too much everything you want to give a response. Please leave the gus talk their NON SENSE DON4T YOU SEE THEY ARE TEMPTING YOU AND TEAM DOMINICA; Concentrate on wat you r doing. Tell the opposition to go to parliament. you all are to ‘thin skin’.
If only Lennox had used the word alleged when he made that statement I would have understood it differently and i do not have a legal mind.
Let the Court decide. That will help in the way forward as to what politicians are allow to say on stage.
@Really? it will also talk loudly as to what parliamentarians can and cannot do to poor and needy citizens.
Someone has to stand for the young ladies of Dominica,This been going on for to long.Not only in politic but people in power taking advantage of the poor.So Mr.lennox hats off to you.Hopefully now these men will think before they take advantage on the poor.Young ladies dnt settle for less.Come out and speak out.Thanks you Mr.lennox.Keep fighting for our people.Love ya jah bless.
They are adults. They have a mouth and voice. Why did they not pursue it themselves?
As long as the allegations are true that’s what is important. They will all see there day.
Allegations and fact are a little bit different, my friend. Allegations have to be proven, then they become fact.
linton you were not a journalist when you made the comment so stop trying to hide behind its cloak. You were introduced as political leader and incoming prime minister. This is going to be one interesting case
every thing starts and ends…
@ peaceful HAHAHAHA you all like people to spell things out for you all the same way Lenox think he can use his words is the same thing OH BOY did, but I wont leave you hanging for an illiterate like me this how you will get the clue look at the person name that tells you what the meant by their statement, the funny thing is after they read what I have to say am sure some of them wish they could take back their thumbs up LOL.
Illiterate for real. Cannot understand the S…….T you wrote. No puntuation…………………..
@ real possie But what kind of commess is that nah. Man read your bloggs before pressing the POST BUTTON. Your darn IDIOT!
DNO, your article speaks of defendants. Besides Lennox Linton, who are the defendants?
Skerrit and his Robert Mogabe style regime will sue a Hamburger if He only suspect that the buger want to unseat him.
DLP is now ina state if desperation , so I want Team Dominica to hold strong and remember that you all are doing this to the better of our children’s future.
Keep focus.
What children’s future? Parents are to educate their children accordingly. You leave it until they are old enough and adults to experience something as this? This is where you go wrong. Furthermore it is the example, one way or the other you project to them in the home.
You sounding like a donkey from “Team Dominica UWPEEE”!
hope this backfires in the gov’t face
By the look of this case as I read, it does not appear so. The laughing stock may be on Linton.
That is an utter IMPOSSIBILITY.
Lennox , I want to encourage you in your pursuit to lead Dominica and its peope into the prosperity that we have seen so many smaller countries in the Caribbean enjoy today.
These distractions should only strenghten you, in the face of those eveil doers.
Sometimes, I wonder whether Skeritt does not blame himself for asking Mr. Lennox Linton to remove himself from the microphone of Q95 as a journalist and enter the political race. According to Mr. Linton himself, “be careful what you ask for.” Since Mr. Linton took the leadership role of UWP Team Dominica, Skeritt has been running scared and totally discombobulated according to Blessings. Politically, this bouyie from Marigot aint joking.
Well said. Lennox will strip all of them naked. Be careful what you wish for Skerrit. Anthony Astasphan is taking you for a dangerous ride.
Lennox when you win that case, I do hope you counter sue all 18 ministers, Including that Tony Astaphans..
You are a presumptuous one.
“Qualified privilege”. We go see. The gentleman seem tobe relying on a report forma young girl where an allegationof rape against a minister was at the Roseau Police Station. In our system governance, does such a report of an alleged crime means a person, a minister has been convicted of rape? What is required for a person to be categorized as rapist in public with all its attendant implications. Is the gentleman advancing the view that when he called the “cabinet as harbouring rapist ministers” he did not intend for a negative impact on the character and reputation of the ministers. Oh, what words can do!! I wait to see which Minister of government can rightfully and legally carry the badge of “rapist” under our system of governance. Can you imagine if all of us were free to call each other any name at any time.
Lennox put his foot in his mouth and is trying to reverse what he meant.
So Gildon knows how to file a defense………hmmmm poor Checko…..
Ask Checko
Linton 18-1
This is just the beginning stage of opening of Pandoras box. The DLP may be on the loosing end of this one.
What makes you think so? Linton has to stick to the article and nothing else. The Court will accept nothing which is not related to this case.
Your responses portray someone with a lot to lose…is it
A. side money while poor people starve
B. duty free while poor people pay full costs
C. free building materials while poor people cant get any
or D. your flushing toilet
?????
Skerrit like to sue ah. He just like the US Republicans who are now planning to sue President Obama. What a bunch.
But you don’t know Roosevelt Skerrit is not a true socialist, what eh Americans call a liberal. Look at mister, the way he living and having wealth, he is just like a capitalist. and pretending he is a labourite. One big joke.
and Linton to like to say what he want with his mouth!
The defense filed by J. Gildon Richards, Linton’s attorney, pleads “truth, fair comments, public interest and qualified privileges.”
In the defense, Linton is not denying the publication of the words complained off, however, he denies that the allegations made therein were either false or were made in “reckless disregard as to whether they were false or not.”
and what is your point exactly?
…
Ummm, so you’re just going to quote part of the article and not make a statement about the quote? Ok…that tells me you have no comprehension of said quote or article! Sort of an imprudent move on your part 
Obama deserves to be sued. Have you really been following the US News? Some of you listen to the News and read about it without comprehending anything which is why you made this comment.