Senior counsel, Tony Astaphan, has brushed aside a defense filed by leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Lennox Linton, in a defamation matter involving all ministers of government.
“That defense is not worth the paper or the ink or the time it took to print it,” he told Kairi’s Heng Program.
Linton was sued by the ministers following remarks he made at a rally in St. Joseph in which he referred to alleged activities by government ministers as rape.
He stated that there is 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.”
The ministers subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit.
Linton then filed a defense pleading “truth, fair comments, public interest and qualified privileges.”
But according to Astaphan, who is one of the lawyers representing the ministers, the defense did not take into the consideration the “plurality of the ministers.”
“I am not going to get into the merits and demerits of the matter,” he stated. “But if I make the complaint that ministers have raped and ministers have extorted sexual favors in exchange for public assistance, that has to be the defense that has to be met … the plurality of the ministers.”
He explained that the defense is suggesting that all Linton was speaking about was only one minister.
“There is nothing in the defense that we have seen to suggest that every minister of government has raped anybody or extorted anybody in exchange for public assistance,” he stated. “Nothing in there at all to cover the allegation against the collective ministers.”
Linton we know for sure that they plan to take you out of the game at any cost. AT ANY COST. Who don’t know don’t know but time will tell.
Linton in the mean time be cautious. Keep your circle of trust small. Don’t just look at what Tony says for his actions are far more dangerous than what he sayS
DNO it would be quite interesting to find out who it is or was that the Kittitian gun man called when hewas arrested in Barbados and why the person put down the phone as soon as that person recognize the voice of the gunman. Also why the government is yet to identify the so called child in Dominica; why it is that no mother came forward to say or confirm the existence of that child.
When dangerous men get desperate Crime and malice will thrive
Mr. Astaphans, was the name Dominica Ministers of governm4nt mentioned by Mr. Linton? What kind of case you are trying to put together?
Is this another case where the DLP intend to invoke the “Doctrine Of Necessity” The strange thing is not a single one of the Ministers has publicly denied the perceived allegations of rape made against this Government by Lennnox Linton. Weather their interpretation of the statement suggests that one or all the Ministers is or was involved in this inhumane behavior; then for goodness sake come out and condemn the perpetrator(s); stop burying your heads in the sand like the ostrich; least you be accused of being “guilty by association”. Meantime i’d advise that the letters Hon. should be removed forthwith from the names of all of them.
There is something called understanding. Your statement “The strange thing is not a single one of the Ministers has publicly denied the perceived allegations of rape made against this Government by Lennnox Linton”. Isn’t The Ministers taking Linton to Court for defamation, regarding the allegations made against them. You have written such nonsense regarding the matter without understanding the issue very sad.
Astaphan, I wonder if you’ve ever thought about the time after Skerrit, which by the way will come soon. What are you gonna do then? No more government work, no more private work. Dominicans won’t forget! Better now make plans to move to another island. You are not welcome here anymore.
one day we will see or realise the DOMINICA is govern the way Haiti was govern, where if you did not support papa Doc, you and you family was in trouble,
Astaphans, Please be reminded that your high horse is being deflated. You can continue riding it or you can get off now.
@Emile Zapatos I dont kno if i should call you silly or stupid “the DLP” that has existed for 70 years is not Skerrit & Tony. thats the Dominica freedom party. Check the levels again.
I think the lawsuit against Linton for making unproven remarks defaming people in public office and Lugay making remarks threatening the lives of people in public office is a stance the government has taken to end this false propaganda and lies Dominicans have grown so fond of. In the past Gossip used to drive people to either behave properly or hide behind the improper behavior. Example people used to be ashamed to go to jail or be associated with drug use, alcohol at a young age or be thought of as a prostitute or otherwise now this generation is proud of those things. This behavior has seeped into Dominican politics and UWP is taking advantage of gossip as means to label people and distort the truth and yes some people will overlook untruthful statements as a means to supports their likes and dislikes. In life it’s about what you KNOW not what you THINK. Some people are just born ignorant with or without education they go through life thinking what they think is truth and take no notice of truth or logic, as long as they’re getting what they want. So, women will make Bum for money then tell everyone the husband is cheating on his wife with them, people with good jobs will sell drugs then say the government isn’t paying enough, criminals will go to jail for their crimes and their communities will be in support of them and treat them as heroes. The poison is spreading… everyone wants a piece of the apple of so called success… at the price of their very souls. Just an opinion. ALLUDOHREADYET!
Tony trying to to tongue tie us with his ludricous “plurality of ministers”. Man that even exceeds the the plurality of the Holy Trinity. I’m not impressed by this man’s bully tactics. I do believe he is a human being like everyone else and therefore vulnerable and fallible too.
@ Jaime Lewis………………Good question. This will end when the uwp people will realise that the DLP which has existed for almost 70 years is quite able and ready to defend itself from all commers, and can go toe to toe , eyeball to eyeball.
They are not afraid of linton May ’79 stone brigade anymore.
I heard somewhere that truth may not always be a defense. I heard that linton was overseas calling Dominican women prostitutes . He was spelling out the word one letter at a time. He was also saying who do not like what he says to “bring it on.” Is this the same linton who trashed the speaker of the house so bad that she had to withdraw from an appointment as Dominica’s first lady president?
@Emile Zapatos
Emile i thought that after you long absence you would have returned as a smarter person. Apparantly you have returned even more stupid that you were. . And it is the patriots of Dominica who did not want the women speaker NOT only the INCOME PM Lennox Linton only Emile. I WAS ONE OF THEM WHO SAID NO WAY, THAT CANNOT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!. If you had just a quarter of a brain Emile in you big and ugly head, you would have known that this lady did not qualify to be speaker.. But Emile did you hear that the mad man, the God that you adore so much, used the DIAPER BUGET SUMMARY TO SEND mape wee AT LINTON the incoming Prime Minister AND DOCTOR PASCAL? That is OK WITH YOU EMILE? What a shame and an outright disgrace. Was the person you wanted as persident in the house Emile?
Emile That’s Why Change Is a Must!!!!!!
GOOD DAY EMILE. HAPPY YOU CAME OUT OF HIBERNATION
Do you have to react that way to make your point if you do not agree with someone, very sad indeed.
You “heard” on kairi Fm.. a bunch of modern day pirates
@Emile Zapatos Emile are you a part of the bunch of moodern day pirates, plundering Dominica? Shame on you Emile,. Your parents taught you better. When you plunder a country and render thousands of people as beggars, what else will you not do Emile?
Yawn
Tony doh try that. No distractions. We not talking that now . I so happy people not responding to your article. Why is this article not on DA vibes? We focusing on what all you trying to do Dr. Eipigh. Don’t change the subject. We unto all you tactics
the usual bull from Tony who thinks he is All and Mighty and he only went to school, and he knows it all. and he alone knows the law. Well Tony we will see the outcome of this one, your utterances are not worth a grain of salt
You want to fault the man for doing his job? He’s not a doctor, teacher, singer, DJ, journalist…. the man is a lawyer doing exactly what he is paid to do….Can you say the same?
@Hell you… Tony A. has been a lawyer since the day I grow my pwell. He’s apparently a decent one because all the people in high positions hiring him. You have to realize the man is a lawyer… he is not the defendant he is not the client, if he win or loose the case he still getting his money. Attacking the lawyer is like being mad at your ‘side ting’ boyfriend bcuz he bwiedey her… is not yours or your business!. UDOHREADYET!
What a lame attack by the SC. You know damn well what Lennox is talking about. Don’t worry, time will tell for according to Nasio “Truth will reveal”. Tony is doing all this simply because of his relationship with judges in the region. This is more reason why I personally believe that the CCJ is a Baddddddddd idea. Just read the Trinidad Express and see how judges in the region behave. One even selling carnival tickets donated to his office. But God is good ALL the time for what goes around comes around two folds. Change is a MUST!
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
Frankly, from what Linton originally stated and his defense, it does not appear he has a case, a defense one at all. During his talk, he generalized which means all have committed this act. This was a grave error on his part. Anyone with common sense should deduce that.
@ The Facts Are you a lawyer or one of the greedies steling from the poor? You seem to one of the morally and intellectually depraeved acolyte and accessory of all forms of evil committed by the Labour Party cabal. It would be interesting to know why the name of Linton always have you spreading filth and spewing you venum and viruses on this medium.
WORKERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
The Facts
My desire is that DNO would permanently exclude you from posting your comments, as you are doing my head in.
Just shut it!
Wow, is this how you react when someone share a different opinion from you.It seems you have plenty to learn and understand.
Even though you are lacking a limb, you could have included your name in the list because you have included persons who are not ministers.
Take your time wi Astaphan you and Skeritte
who are linton’s attorneys?
God is watching us from a distance
When will this end? When will we move on with the business of nation building instead of all this tearing down each other? When will we agree to disagree without making all these threats? When will the PM spend the time digging into the history books to find out how a former Prime Minister was destroyed by his own legal counsel? The PM is blinded by his own arrogance and allowing Mr. Astaphan to lead him astray. When will those closest to the PM sit him down and have a heart to heart talk with him about toning down his arrogance? This is just going way too far.
Well linton in trouble now
wa happen .. you want everybody to know u was at the red clinic
LOL, boy one cannot help but just laugh out of pure frustration for Dominica.
I mean this guy, Astaphan, must be a real genius for real. The man just creating cases so he can make money on Dominicans.
Ok Astaphan, so you are not the attorney general, YOU demanded the ministers sue Linton and then YOU are the lawyer representing the ministers.
I wonder, (1) How much you getting paid to represent the ministers, and (2) Are the taxpayers fronting that bill?
Man, you are a genius…
If this is what what you understand see from this matter pity you.
Please Dominicans let show some solidarity to our Healthcare issue and not comment on Astaphan.
He is not worth it!!!!
Mr.A. You are so hungry for blood.Stop creating problems in Dominica.Why dnt you donate some of all the money you have to some of the young ladies who are struggling to make ends meet.Am so sick of hearing bad stuff about you.Please do something for your country.
why don’t you do the same or ask your Team Dominica to do so? Why don’t you become a lawyer and represent the Gov’t instead of Tony so you’ll just sit quiet instead of doing what a lawyer is pad to do i.e. DEFEND! REPRESENT!
A defense has been filed. Stop discuss court matters in public domain. Such comments do interfere with the judiciary process as perceived by the public. Arguments like these are definitely for the courtroom!!!!
Ko-ki-yo-ko!!!
Can somebody explain to the our DNO readers, why has this lawyer got so much power that makes him thinks he owns our beloved country? How on earth this man continues to treat Dominicans as second class citizens in their own land with impunity, and the Laborites think all is well? Shame, shame, shame.
Well, for those who are in denial, they have not seen anything yet. The day of reckoning shall soon come if they do not vote this regime out of office. Roosevelt Skerrit gave Anthony Astaphan, PUBLIC ENEMY #1, the green light to destroy our brothers and sisters who oppose the governance of the country. So what do we do?
The time is now to send the message to both the government and the despicable lawyers that we shall take no more of their crap. This kind of nonsense got to stop, and I mean every citizen of the land (voter) needs to step up to the plate and ensure that Roosevelt Skerrit and his inner circle no longer govern what they think is their coconut Republic.
Definitely, change must come sooner than we think. It’s not an option.
Your opening paragraph portrays such ignorance and arrogance. The public enemy # 1 in our Country is not Tony or The PM. Politicians come and go. Public enemy # 1 in the country is the kind of Politics which seems to inhabiting the country and dividing it.
All tony is doing is setting the talking points..the matter is before a court of law…so lets focus on the issues that’s keeping DA back and the manner in wich the DLP administration is treating Dominicans..UWP don’t be distracted..keep the fire blazing
Tony might just get what he has been wanting for years, the down fall of a particular Minister of Government. He knows the Minister of Government who was alleged to have been implicated. Having all those Ministers of Government including the lady Ministers take court action, in my opinion, is simple collateral damage. Tony missed him once, therefore, he will be looking forward for Mr. Linton’s lawyers to take over where he left off many years ago. The unfortunate thing is that all those Ministers of Government whose names are on the court’s documents will be lined up individually to be grilled by Mr. Linton’s lawyers. God alone knows the embarrassment the Ministers of Government will have to encounter.
You have written so much foolishness regarding this matter, it is so sad. Linton comments regarding Government Ministers calling them rapist stems from an allegation made by a woman to police regarding a particular Minister. The allegation against The Minister has not been brought before The Court, and let us suppose it did, that Minister has The right under The Law to prove his innocence in a court of Law, until then he cannot be called a rapist. Why would Linton make such statements calling Ministers of Government rapist based on an allegation not proven in Court and when sued for defamation intends to have the woman who made the allegation testify in his Court case suggesting his statements cannot be deemed as defamation, this displays such arrogance.
Why are you displaying confidence in ignorance, it says one thing you do not understand and you are being lead by emotion rather than argument and reason.
Dld Leo Austin play any part in bringing down Patrick John?
Will Tony play any part in bringing down Skerrit? OR has he done it already? Because i cannot see how Skerrit will win the next election!
Wow, why is it that what you cannot see and understand is deemed impossible, comparing oranges and mangoes is not a fair comparison.
Tony, tell Lennox do not play with you.
He cannot do nothing with you when comes to law.
He might win when comes to hegass but not in law.
Tony can you tell us why Skerrit is so scared of those that are smarter than him, that he even want to take them on during the summary of a budget debate?. Well the electorate in large measure is not bothered with you and you rapist case now Tony, THE ELECTORATE IS CALLING FOR ELECTION!
Hope that you get some boxes for Skerrit very early. It’s important that he starts the PACKING PROCESS very early.
Tony Ido hope the ministers pay you from their pockets and not from the public purse
Sir, you are not relevant.
ST JOE TONIGHT RALLYING WITH MONELLE!!!
Go ahead Tony. You presently have Labour Party THREE QUARTERS DEAD, with oxygen hose in its nostrils. You forced the party to surrender Roseau North to Danny Lugay, yet still those around Skerrit’s inner circle is not saying it’s time to dismiss this man from our camp.. Hope the embarrassment will not put Labour to rest for another 30years. You all think is Skerrit that will take the grinds of being opposition leader? With all those questions he has, and will be compelled to answer?. Remember Skerrit never struggled as a politician. He was just placed on the throne of leader, no wonder he does not know what to do with this position. If election is called tonight Labour will lose it badly, they will lose it even worse if this GARBAGE IS BROUGHT TO COURT.
As a party try to get into gear, to face the electorate. It’s hard to see how you all can stop the momemtum that UWP HAS, and the response that the party is getting from the electorate.
THANKS GOD I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO LEAVE THIS PARTY ABOUT 10 years ago. I am totally and absolutely vindicated, since at the time i never sew Skerrit as a leader.
This Labour Party which he leads has lost its way long ago!
HOW LONG?
NOT LONG!
WORKERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Mr. Linton be strong brother we all know what’s going around here, so keep the faith…..
turning and twisting words
Some body help me please. Why all that “noise”. Mr. Linotn accused the cabinet of Dominica as harbouring “rapist ministers”. I expected Mr. Linton in his defense to bring evidence to show that Minister A and or Minister B was in such adn such a year arrested, charged, brought before a court a court of law and after due process was/were found guilty on the charge of rape charge. Never did I expect Mr. Linton to cite a report of an allegation of sexual misconduct by a minster as evidence to prove his “rapist Ministers” charge at St. Joseph.
Mr. Astaphan’s commemts on the matter is not helping me either understand how is it possible for a trained practicing attorney could not tell Mr. Linton that his accusation at St. Joseph cannot stand in court unless he can prove that any minister or ministers were found guilty of the charge of rape. To my mind that is the evidence that suits the bill. It would seem to me that in today’s Dominica, any time Mr. Linton alleges a wrong doing by someone, that allegation becomes the truth and able to stand in a court of law. I am confused
Point well taken, you do not seem to be a confuse person at all.
Lord save this country for the enemies,protect us from those who attach the citizens. Rise Lord God Almighty and come to our aid. Wake up and punish the heathen; show no mercy to evil traitors! The Lord is on His thorn and He will rule the people with Justice and fairness. Amen Psalms 59.
Anonymous .
Hello and good afternoon my people. A Jew wrote the Bible and he confused you all. So keep quoting that book that have something for every Religion.
Approximately 50 men from many different walks of life wrote the Bible. All were Jews except one. Luke who wrote the Gospel of St. Luke and The Acts was a Greek physician.
One common theme runs through the entire Bible and that is God\’s plan of redemption through the Person of Christ His Son by His death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. This is called \”the gospel\” (good news). It is clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. We are saved by believing this message. Paul wrote \”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.\” (Romans 1:16)
Yes, the Bible has something for all people of every religion. It tells all people everywhere there is only one Savior, Jesus Christ, who said \”… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.\” (John 14:6)
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Wow, before you go about saying prayers, this is what you need to understand the function of prayer is not to influence God especially in Politics but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.