The defamation case won by accountant Kieron Pinard-Byrne against talk show host Lennox Linton is one of the matters before the OECS appeals court when it meets here later this month.
Linton lost his court battle with Pinard-Byrne after High Court judge Brian Cottle concluded that he the defendant Linton failed to provide evidence to support allegations he said were based on facts.
“His demeanor in the witness box was more consistent with personal animosity towards the Claimant rather than an unbiased search for truth. The overall tone of the offending publications also reeked of rancour rather than even handed reporting,” Justice Cottle wrote on the matter in which Pinard-Byrne insisted that Linton and others had slandered and libeled him.
The judge further ruled that “the court also cannot be blind to a growing disturbing tendency of the part of some local media practitioners to make reckless and very unfortunate statements without any factual foundation.”
“In societies such as ours there is a tendency to conclude that statements made in the media are to be believed. The mass media is largely trusted and consequently wields much influence. With such great power should also come commensurate responsibility,” the Judge stated.
He said, “When I take into account awards in other recent defamation matters before these courts the award to the claimant is as follows. The first and second defendants will pay damages to the claimant in the sum of $50,000.00 each. The award against the third defendant is in the amount of $10,000.00. The first and second defendants will pay prescribed costs in the sum of $14,000.00, each while the third defendant will pay costs of $3,333.33.”
In reacting to the ruling at the time Linton expressed disappointment and shock.
He said “there was evidence” but “it was ignored by Justice Cottle”.
The journalist/talk show host is hoping that the OECS Supreme Court (the court of appeal) will overturn Justice Cottle’s judgement.
The Cottle ruling also went against Island Communications Corporation Limited (Kairi FM) and Raglan Riviere, who were found guilty as well, of having defamed Pinard-Byrne.
boy leno nex time bring de man bank statments stop blowing grass .u did not have evidence .acept?
Boy look kix!! Lennox playing judge in his own case in the media court of appeal.
He is also the defendant and the defendant’s lawyer. And they say is only women that can multi-task so? Kix for so!!
Why do you haters have to twist and spin everything, then run from computer to computer as if is a door you are passing through to put a tick on your spiderweb-spinning verbiage??
This is a case about a man saying some libellous things about another man that HE COULD NOT PROVE IN COURT were true.
This is the state of the law of the land. NOW DEAL WITH IT!!!!!
In our democracy no one is accuser, prosecuter and judge at the same time. The media should be used to educate and not abused to spread anger and hate and to defame character.
What a nation our Dominica has become, where those who sold our passports, made millions of $$$$$$$$$$$, controversies all over, accountability missing bad, transparency 6 feet deep, fooled the masses about Layou Hotel and investment for so, employment for so coming, are being praised for demonising a dear brother of the soil.
What a nation Dominica has become, where a learned son of the soil, sacrificies himself and family, investigates corrupt practices, publicly and fearlessly reveals his findings for all to know about, has documented evidence of the corrupt acts, yet is savaged by his own people.
Lennox has been proven RIGHT on the exposures of wrong doings in our country. The RUBBISH BIN BOBOL scandal is one of many clear examples still fresh, I hope, in our minds.
History has taught us about the bitter struggles of those who fought against injustices, corruption. Freedom fighters, revolutionaries Martin luther king, Mandela, Fidel Castro, were jailed, (Jesus crucified) by the “Elite class”, “the Master.” With modern technology is now corrupt actions committed all over the world will be exposed. Trust me.
Maybe Lennox should write what he thinks or record it and ask George Cloney to say it to Dominicans. Anything you want to convince a negro of who is hell bent on opposition irrespective of evidence give it to another man to say to him, and see how captivated he will be by this new enlightening information! He will be all over the place repeating the same thing verbatim and so the message will spread.
Wasn’t it this same judge who ruled that Ron Abraham of Marpin pay millions to Kieron? Seems like Kieron Pinard-Byrne always wins whenever Justice Brian Cottle presides over his cases.
I waiting to hear the bank account number for ppl to pledge. Lol
Feedom of speech is a funny thing eh…Lennox now on radio saying people teasing him and saying things about him.
I was completely shock. Here is this man that is on radio everyday talking about people, but take offence that someone talks about him on a blog.
Can you imagine if he was in office.???? DNO might not exist
I wanted to call the program this morning to address persons like you on here. I did not get through.
Bossman, you heard the man complaining? The man was taking a kix on allu who THINK allu words getting to him. lmao
say what u want but i NEVER HEARD LENNOX SAY PPL WERE TEASING HIM!!
Mr Linton not a smart move to continue the defamation by writing about it here and putting your name and attitude to it. The Court of Appeal can and may increase the award for the statements to which your name is attached if it can be proved to be written by you. Alas stop nuh
Over 400 years ago back in Africa people like Lennox Linton were the ones persecuted when they challenged and opposed the foreign white imperialist and slavers. Surprisingly most of thier opposition came from black people like themselves.
The cowards, traitors and collaborators back then continued to maintain thier ‘neutrality’. The result being what we have today with other 75 million blacks taken into slavey, rape and other untold brutality.
Today the journey continues with brave people like linton trying to educated the maaases. However people continue to close thier eyes and be sold into slavery and prefer to make the liberator(linton) the victim whilt they protect the villains.
L
Time will vindicate you Mr inton. The coming generation of children are not as cowardly and tolerant. Thanks to technology Lintons work will be there as a platform which the next generation will challenge forcefully.
In the meanwhile SHAME on all the house slaves and collaborators giving away your children’s birthright, Dominica for a plate of porridge.
Did you say “trying to educate the masses?” Who? Mr. Linton? What a laugh!
@What!
and your point is..???????
u really need to emancipate yourself from mental slavery
@100%TRUTH &BALANCE.
It seems that you did not understand what you learnt at law school if indeed you attended law school. You demeanour may very well be used as it relates to believability but can never be used as a basis for dismissing facts and documented evidence. The basic fact is that the judge failed to find concurrence between the “word complained of” and the evidence presented, which was wrong or done deliberately.
Some of you are so ignorant and backward in thinking that because the white man say then Lennox is wrong. Wasn’t this man involved in the entire Layou River saga and passport sales? While all you chewing up Lennox because you all are supporting a party that he seems to be aligned to, his pockets are getting fatter and we still have a white elephant. Our passports are being pandered off to all and sundry but Lennox the black man from Marigot is the devil. Dominicans are so simple and easily divided. They refuse to remove themselves from personalities and politics and see issues for the critical analysis they are. Truth needs no defense but one day we have to PAY for our watton IGNORANCE that we so proudly honour our beloved late PM with. What a way to go.
Bala & Congorey what are you all thinking about the people you bled to set free? So much for education, we are still enslaved mentally.
Their leader said “DOMINICA IS TOO FREE”. Guess what? The loyal subjects were applauding and cheering in support and some posters are in support of taking people’s rights away.
Seems like Dominicans are under a spell/hypnotized.
? ?
When he fails,then the court is………….
Lennox aka lenny lenny,, one day you must stay quiet,
Why should Lennox stay quiet. This man speaks the truth. We need more like him. Lennox you know what you about and just go for it. Those who are blind one day will see and for those who are deaf one day will hear. I just hope that day will not be too late.
All dat good…he trying to mess up skerrit and nothing cannot work…he even bring up skerrit personal business…now see him now…well well well… …
You all are plunging deeper in poverty – the general populace- while you all are dancing around him – he is increasing his wealth. When will you all wake up? Look at the dictators around the world – look at the empires and take a look at the people worshipping them how poor they are.
One day you all will wake up but took weak or sick to fight.
Stop being a fool. What is he trying with Skerrit. You are just being political. There are alot more Lennox has to bring forward. I was like you all about skerrit Skerrit know with lennox i am no longer like that. So i guess one day you will be honest with yourself and place truth where truth belongs and STOP being POLITICAL.
Just read again some of the blogs. My people condone corruption so much it is freightening. They do not care two hoots whether those involved in the sale of our collective property, our passports,, mine and yours, made millions and refused to stick to their promise of building the 5-Star Layou River Hotel. Where has all that money, millions of dollars, gone? to whom?
Dominicans were fooled about building hotel. Many of my people do not even care they were fooled. What is worse, they continue to be on the side of those who fooled us. Our people are so easily taken for rides, not knowing where they going.
After all, one wonders why some Dominicans continue to demonise Lennox, a proud fearless son of the soil who has caused money to be paid to our Treasury, as a result of his investigations and revelations about the famous Rubbish bin bobol. Truth is like a thorn in the side of many. Why?
So is not true that some amassed millions by selling our passports? Is not true that those people promised to build a hotel in the Layou Valley? Where is the hotel after so many years? So is Lennox that sell passports, make millions and did not build hotel?
The person who dared expose the bad deals and how Dominicans were fooled is looked at and treated as the villain, the devil to be heavily fined and/or jailed. They would haylay hooray. Lennox is blessed. None of them could shut him up. The calypsonian sings, “They would have to firebomb or kill us, but we’ll never be their slaves again.”
I remember the biblical story when the people at the time bawled, “Crucify him, crucify Him.” They were pleading to the Roman authorities to Crucify Jesus and to free Barabas.
dont forget all, Martin went to Jail so West indian blacks could later come to America for a better life.Mandella spent 29 years in prison, Ghandi endured endless suffering and humiliation, for righteousness and justice, and dont forget Jesus, He entered Jerusalem like a super star on Palm Sunday, and by Friday he was dying on a cross, nailed to that cross, bleeding, in unbearable pain, after all friends and followers and the masses he was standing for, deserted him. Alone on the cross, on his own. And so humanity continues to WATCH OUR GOOD MEN AND PROFITS ARE PERSECUTED WHILE WE STAND ASIDE AND LOOK, now we find it not enuff, we have to castigate them too, and take sides against them when they stand to defend us and our children and country against the VAMPIRES AND BLOODSUCKERS WHO RIP OFF OUR OWN MONEY BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE WONT MIND, because they think we are not smart enuff to know what they doing to us. Well I for one stand with Lennox Linton because I have always hoped that I would have been brave enuff to stand with Jesus.
Tellll deeeeeeeem Pat.
A little louder
In their…..
You looking for a song man..
But dats the type of people some of us LOVE and RESPECT
People who doh care about anyone……
Some of us have sold our birthright at the red auction sale…
SO WE DOH MIND.
well put your money where your heart is. ensure lennox bank account fat. Good luck. Calypso different\: we can sing satire but the court does not see satire. they see evidence
Pat, the country you loved so much recognized your contribution to the art form – writing calypso. You are so hateful of the preent leadeship that you chose not to come to even “appear” to accept a gift recognition from the countyr you love so much. you did not even send ytour wife. You sent your brother. What did Jesus say “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God that which rightfully belongs to him”. My point. Lennox took up a campaign attempting to get information about what might have gone worng in the failed Layou River Hotel project. According to Lennox and his findings he shared on radio and television,there was massive corruiption uncomparable to nay other period before in the history of Dominica. For years he presented bits and peices of information to the public and sought to explain his findings. In our system of justice which we all live under and depend on, Mr. Byrne determined that his charcater was destroyed by and sought redress in the courts. Everybody one of us has such rights, whether we are white or black, Englishman or Dominican. Lennox for all his facts could not satisfy the court that what he said about the gentleman was infact true. He did not perform any audit on the accounts, as he has no such qualifications. He invited a half baked accountant to do the forensics on the accounts, based on law, the court found out that the accountant does not so qualify. He (Lennox) admitted his shortcomings in speaking professionally to the work of a professional in such a derogative manner. The court found him wanting and awarded costs. he has chosen to appeal, as it is his rights under the law. When the matter comes up this week, the court of appeal will review the decision of tghe High court and will make a determination in law about the findings of the judge in the lower court. So why the villification. EWhy sudddenly thje entire court system is pandering to one man because Skerrit is Dominica’s Prime Minister? is thta how we come? Is that how we approach issues of national imnportance bu castigating ewvery decison that does not go our way? We live in a country that is governed by laws. The law is there for all to see. Campaigning on radio with political arguments cannot repl;ace the court room where mattersand issues are debated based on the law. By the way the attorney who dethroned lennox is a simple, humble person with little known credentials. His answers to her searching questions couldnot stand the litmus test of the LAW.
THAT IS NO JUDGE!
HE NEEDS JUSTICE!
PERCEPTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope we all will accept the decision of the court. Lennox obviously wil not as he has no faith in the judiciary. He and his folowers believe that Skerrit is in total control of the judiciary. So he will continue to “fight on” even to the detriment of his family. He failed to provide evidence. the Court of Appeal will not consider evidence.It will only consider points of law and then decide where in the law the High Court judge erred. Let him go further. Its his right
Ehbah look threes [3] i should use that to play the lottery.Boy Lenox i believe there is a reason they give u all those 3s they must be lucky numbers. but wait wait if u have to play them come up state side that where the big jackpot is once u win believe me my boy u sure don’t have no problem paying that, and after u pay, u have plenty left overs to buy them off.
ha ha ha ha ! I think so myself … Those talk shows creating a lot of angry people… Even policemen angry… Young people angry. I for one refuse to listen to that “hatred barage” so early in the mornings. That makes your day so heavy.
Love, live life freely and do what Our Father wants us to do … Be happy. There are some persons who do not sleep at night. They lay awake looking for the tiniest hole in everything so they can blow the hole up.
Live and live freely .. Love and be at peace. Enjoy the peace of Christ that only God can give.
You get your own signature ?????????
EVER WONDER WHY SO MANY OF THEM HAVE PRESSURE AND DIABETES. THEY ARE TIGHT WITH ANGER STEMMED FROM LISTENING TO THOSE TALK SHOWS. CAN YOU IMAGINE WAKING UP TO THIS CRAP EVRY DAY? NOW IF YOU SUPPORT THE GOVT YOU WILL BE ANGRY IF YOU DONT YOU WILL BE ANGRIER. YOUR PRESSURE UP. NO WONDER SOME FACES SO WAXED, BOWAY AND SET LIKE TEN RAT TRAPS.
Lennox I wish you well and I hope that good judgement prevails this time among the judges. I find justice Cottle statement is more reflective of Byrne’s lawyer than a “judge” speaking on evidence brought before him.
Many people criticize and say why don’t you give up, and I can’t tell you how long to stay because you are a family man but I am happy that Dominica have you today. Those that are finding your persistence ridiculous, I would like to say to them that many complained about Martin Luther King the same way but had it not been for his bravery, persistence and sacrifice, white people would be still spitting in black people faces in America today.
You are a true hero, a true soldier, and I stand with you and support you 100%, whenever you ready for contribution to pay the debt if it comes down to that I will contribute.
You are our Martin Luther King!!!
Dear DNO Contributors:
This is a 9 year old matter involving the sale of Dominican passports in respect of which Grace Tung and company collected over 80 million dollars of passport money, promised to build a hotel and failed to deliver. I am at the Court of Appeal next week and beyond that I will be at the Privy Council or the CCJ if necessary. I am on my own. I have not asked for and have not received one red cent from anyone for this case filed against me in 2003 for speaking inconvenient truths. Here is an example from the records of the court why my quest for justice remains alive:
WORDS PINARD-BYRNE COMPLAINED OF: “… he mercilessly insults the intelligence of Dominicans from whose passports he has become a major beneficiary.”
WITNESS STATEMENT of LENNOX LINTON: My statement is based on Mr. Byrne’s confirmation in the audited statements that he received over 800 thousand dollars for his services as Owners Representative. That information was obtained in the Oriental Hotel (Dominica) Ltd Report and Accounts – December 31, 1999, page 13. The actual amount disclosed for Owner’s Representative Fees and Expenses is US$320,721 equivalent to EC$871,367
JUSTICE COTTLE: [Paragraph 21] Against the backdrop of the continuous publicity occasioned by the first defendant’s publication of the results of his investigative journalism into the entire Layou River Hotel affair and the economic citizenship program, to accuse the claimant of having become a major beneficiary of the passports of Dominicans must be taken to mean that the claimant has benefited personally from the sale of Dominican passports.
Now who in Dominica, is prepared to deny that someone who receives over 800 thousand dollars in fees and expenses from a project financed by passport money is in truth and in fact a beneficiary of passport money?
The struggle continues.
Follow my advise .Stay calm.Resolve your disputes more professionally without jeopardy to repudiating any claims you may be entitled to. Don’t make matters worst.
But where were you to speak of these things during 1995 to 2000. We would have loved to hear you.
Honesty is honesty all the time and not when you choose
@PROF. WIKILEAKS.
I will venture to answer that question for Mr. Linton. Between 1995 and 2000, he was a member of The Committee for good and accountable government, an organization which was calling for transparency and good governance from the then UWP administration. The question you should be asking and to those persons who suddenly abandoned that organization is, why did thy abandon all those lofty ideals as soon as labour assumed office. You should be asking them to open their mouths and speak the same way they did between 195 and 2000. I know that you know better but just in case you don’t, let me inform you that the level of corruption in Dominica at present in unprecedented in our history, or for that matter the history of any OECS country. There is so much to talk about that people on the outside are now wondering what kind of people are we and whether we are all fools.
You know what the problem is with persons like you? You like to play hoop séway. You hide behind a computer to make foolish and misleading statements. You hide when there is sensible, uplifting discussion in public for fear of disclosing your stupidity and ignorance. You hide behind closed doors to bawl about the pain you feel about the lack of opportunities to provide for your family because of the ineptitude of your government. You should be careful though, because as a child I know of people who were so good at hiding that they stayed in their hiding place for hours after the game was over, oblivious to the fact that everyone had gone home.
Brother Lennox,
Such an excellent short piece to have them thinking deep. However, some people on here lack the capacity to even read carefully what you wrote there, far less to understand it. So like you said, “the struggle continues”.
I am about to collect my share of bashing for identifying myself with my comment. Something alot of them cannot do.
So this is what they refer to as bad journalism, speaking the truth….well Dominica is in serious trouble!
Thanks for posting Lennox….who have eyes to read let them read and a brain to understand may they do so…..
In reading this comment I have to agree with the original decision of Justice Cottle. It is more a matter of the “technicality” in the phrasing of Mr. Linton’s statement than the real truth value of the allegaion which in fact I am not concerned with at the moment). If you are reporting on a fact that clearly states that someone received “compensation” in a professional capacity for work contracted or exchanged, it is in fact incorrect and a “technical non-truth” to simply say that the individual was a beneficiary of that transaction (as simply saying that, as Mr. Linton said, means you are saying that the individual received funds for personal use or in a grant capacity). If it was indicated in Mr. Linton’s statement that he became a benificiary in his capacity as “owner’s representative” or “accountant” or whatever the professional service for which the individual was “compensated” then the statement would be “technically” correct…
CONTEMPT OF COURT!!!
My grand mother always say make sure brain is engage before we open our mouth for our tongue can become our worst enemy and can cost us a lot. I always wonder why some people think that their right to say what they want is also a right to defame,another, who has the same right to defend his/her self. Fair is fair. I would like any body from the D.N.O family to elaborate on the subject of why some people do not uphold the saying “DO unto others as we would like done to us”. Let me be clear my post is not directly related to this particular case. We like to jump at others even when we do not understand their point. No name no warrant.Respect!
Wel lennox boy! Leave defending dominica and dominicans alone day doh mele. Focus on your family and getting their scholarship from skerrit bcuz workas wil not win in anotha 6 elections
U mean the ‘Tom and Jerry’ journalist?
yeah the same tom and jerry journalist that exposed the bin and fertilizer bobol that put back over 5 hundred thousand dollars into dominicas treasury..
Who said cartoons didn’t generate lots of money? It’s a multimillion dollar industry!!
A little word of caution to the offender about privacy.
Each individual has the right to respect of their Privacy with regards to his or her own private life, family matters and correspondence. An infringement of an individual’s private life will involve the wrongful disclosure of matters that are private.and in which case can land the offenders in big trouble . so please Dominicans let your mouth to the listening and your hears to the talking.
These two men have a lot of time to waste on nonsensical issues. If they were to put their heads together and work positively for the betterment of the country, we all would be happy. instead they dig up all sort of rubbish just to make a name for themselves.
Wasted minds
It is easy for you to say what you have said, nevertheless, do you really believe that Lennox Linton would have been such an idiot to make allegations against Kieron, without some proof of the matter, or have something to substantiate his allegations?
The judge was prejudicial in his/her ruling, such attitude, and behavior are not accepted, and tolerated within the Common Law system; therefore the ruling of the judge should be vacated, and Lennox should prevail.
The fact that the judge commented about Lennox demeanor during the trial is evidence of the judges biasness, and as such his verdict should be vacated, set aside as it is said in legal terms.
The judge was prejudicial in his ruling, such attitude, and behavior are not accepted, nor tolerated within the Common Law system of justice; therefore the ruling of the judge should be vacated, and Lennox should prevail.
One of our greatest problem in the Caribbean, is that the entire judicial system is corrupted, judges render decisions not based on law, but by taking side, and rendering decisions based on politics than not law.
That is sad indeed!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
I error in that former post, by been repetitive, it is not because I am an idiot, eh, to error is to be human!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
My friend I was taught in law school a person`s demeanor while giving evidence before a court of law weighs in a lot the last I checked it is still the same today, am I missing something? I need to be educated not confrontation. P.H.D in criminal LAW.
Boy the judge did not say what he heard. He said what he saw. The anger, hatred, venom and other vile attitude displayed by lennox in the court room. Probably the judge too felt threatened. Tell lennox to calm down and let his pressure go down.
Why all these “3’s” $3.333.33, is that a number for one to ponder upon?
I hope that he is not going to do a radio thorne to assist him in paying these funds?
Good luck Mr linton, God is with you and justice will serve fairly to our citzen, lord help us all
They want to keep the media quiet so that they can continue to rip off the people.
dat is not my comment ok. some stole my internet name.
Lennox ce un homme qui TOOMANTAE…MONSIEUR FU!
You have obviously had a taste of hell, so you need comapnion. You are rebuked in the name of the Lord! GO WITH YOUR TOMENT TO THE LORD! HE CAN CLEANSE YOU!
When will they ever learn?
I love the judge’s statements. He pulled no punches in calling a spade a spade.
MAY GOD GUIDE YOU, MR. LINTON. WE ARE ALL PRAYING FOR YOU.
I think you need it
He’s going to lose again.
When someone plans to appeal a case they should respect the court.To publicly criticize a Judge is to criticize and disrespect the court.You then appeal to the same court.
Hmm, good luck with that Lennox. I hope Blessings, Coipel, Joseph from Laplaine et al will help you with that bill you have to pay there.
Oh la! My grand mother would say sa ki aide shayay shooval gwo boudain pa ka aide shayay zeb. Talk is cheap and I think its time for us to learn that.
Blessings??? Where he getting it
This is an advice.
Sometimes in life, we need to stop for a moment and evaluate ourselves and see where we are , what have we done right, what is not working and how can we move on.
Life is not all about confrontations and spending life in court rooms.
I say give up talk show and live life freely
Hope this is what you plan to do.You seem to have been been basking in ignorance and laziness.. Good to see that you have planned to turn over a new leaf
Hope you evaluated your life and see where you are. Cause by the looks of it, you ain’t anywhere far. First of all, you’re a labourite. That alone is a no -no-no. lmao