Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Francine Baron has made good her promise to sue opposition leader, Lennox Linton, talk show host Angelo Allen and radio station Q-95 FM for reportedly ‘defaming her character’ in relation to US$10,000 she received in Malaysia while she was Dominica’s High Commissioner in London in 2014.
In February, she wrote to the three demanding an apology in the matter and US$10,000 from each of them, which would go to a charity of her choice or legal action would be taken.
It appears the demands were not met and her attorney, Senior Counsel Tony Astaphan told state-owned DBS Radio that she has indeed taken the matter to the courts.
“This thing has been going on now for over two years and Senator Francine Baron decided enough was enough,” he said, saying that she was subjected to a campaign alleging that she had either stolen the money or was involved in fraud and could not account for it.
“Enough is enough,” Astaphan stated.
He said although Baron wrote to those involved in the matter, “they did not apologize”
“They continued the campaign after she wrote them and she has sued,” he added.
According to him, Baron intends to claim significant damages because of the vileness of the allegations against her.
He noted that the campaign relied on a photograph of her receiving a symbolic cheque.
“You know one of these cheques that are two feet wide, four feet long,” he stated, adding that it could not be cashed nor was it transferable.
“Senator Francine Baron’s name was not even named on the cheque as a recipient,” he stated. “And it turns out that the money was in fact, actually transferred and received by the recipient named on the symbolic cheque.”
Astaphan said despite the obviousness of the slander, those involved in the matter kept on going.
“So the court will now have to decide whether in fact it was libelous and how much money is to be paid to her in compensation,” he remarked.
you not easy can you all see they playing you all this woman and astaphan playing on you all mind there will be no case but sure this woman has questions to answer
Tony why can u stay in dominica anymore u relaxing in Florida ..but if dominica so nice come stay with us
AA you come out, you more bad than skeroo man angelo? girl behave yourself. you doh know everybody afraid of mister? If you want some bucks check out the CBI.
That is a frivolous law suit; any judge or magistrate who would award you one dime would have to be a Kangaroo court judge or magistrate!
Until you give an account of what you did with that ten thousand dollars, there shall forever be a cloud of suspicion lurking over your head. You cannot say they did not entrusted that cheque into your hands, and unless you come clean and tell the nation what you did with it; you have no case.
Nevertheless, with all things bias and unequal in Dominica, a crooked judiciary member such as a judge, and magistrate who fear Roosevelt will turn over backwards and find a way to cause you to prevail. If that happens, there should be an insurrection in the country!
It seems to me you are into something cynical: Where is the money; who endorsed the cheque, bank draft, money order, or cashiers cheque in order to cash it or deposit it into an account?
Mr. Linton counter sue her then she too will have to pay lawyer fees. Then agai the puppet master can represent her in court.
We have to learn to be responsible . These Defamed cases are hurting our UWP . Clear the way for Joshua . Leadership matters . All are we for SICKIRI for all ah we.
I am beginning to get fedup of your Resurrection attempt of Joshua. Reader do you know that Contaminated Damaged Cornbeef has been hauled off our shelves . Bad things are to be thrown away , discarded because they can be pollutants.
The UWP has struggled in Opposition for many years and is not in need of any agents of deception and controversy . We are an organized body and the I DO WAT I WANT & SAY AS I WISH & I KNOW IT ALL approach will not work with us. A wounded animal is at its most dangerous stage so LINTON must never let down his guard. An unknown assailant is very problematic. A rebranded adversary is lethal even if a new found fake allegiance and strange solidarity is being used. UWP shall not be tricked into complacency . Several viable options to contest seats are available . Shameful that some believe that they’re indispensable and really believe that our people have forgotten their deeds. The poorly attended TOWN HALL MEETINGS Speak volumes; new Blue rep needed .
Some people in Dominica could care less if from here on every Prime Minister to serve in Dominica is a thief and a pedophile you know!
Some of them would much prefer to go up to Stock Farm pluck the longest serving inmate out of there, be he/she a horse, or chicken thief, murderer or rapists, and crown them Prime Minister you know. The way I see it the worst character in the country can become prime minister of Dominica,
You know what? I going to kill somebody and run back to Dominica, and kill two more people becoming a serial killer, and tell people give me a chance I good for Dominica, and I bet anything they will vote me Prime! Minister eh!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahahha!
And that’s how dumb our people are, we commit crimes and walk the streets of the country pretending to be impeccable like a dove.
Angelo for sure i would sue. He annoys the crap out of me. Acts as if nobody is smarter than him.
U have plenty crap yuck.. said it yourself. Go cleanse tan… full of crap…
Well, if he from Wesley, make no mistake about it must be smart eh!
If he is the guy we called Governor when we were kids, in Wesley; he actually was not a dumb boy I hope I am not confusing him with someone else, because when we were kids, his complexion was lighter.
If I am correct, his mother’ name is Rossema, and she is of Carib decent. So Governor if that’s I am Son Fu Ma John!
This is an abuse of due process and the court’s time. A legitimate question was posed to this woman which according to her had a simple answer but her arrogance prevented her from answering. She should realise that at the time of receiving the cheque, she was a public officer and as such responsible to the people of Dominica, political affiliation aside. One may want to imply that there was an accusation in asking the question but no court can prove such a thing especially after refusing to answer after years.
Be careful of stones that you throw. There have been too much of this by Linton and his supporters, right on this Website. I had been warning you. People’s good name is precious to them. Think of yourselves. Place yourselves in the shoes/situation of others. How would you feel if your name was defamed and consistently so? It is also demeaning that person.
Every time we disobey one of God’s Commandment it is a mortal/grievous sin. One of this is The VIII – The Eighth Commandment – Thou shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbour.
Some people think they can say anything which comes to their mind. They even give a hateful look. Even though you support UWP and Lennox as its leader, this gives you no reason to tarnish the name of others whom you do not support.
You are Christians but your words are far from Christian-like. Do you not think that God heard you and took note of your evil words? No one escapes from evil words and works.
Ms. Baron is on a hiding to nothing. She received the donation in question the form of a cheque for U.S.10,000 in Kuala Lumpur on 3 Nov. 2014, in full public glare.
It was made out to a charity in the U.K., not in Dominica. Despite repeated requests and cajoling no response was forthcoming until some sixteen months later, on 23 Feb. of 2017 from said charity, confirming receipt of these funds and telling us that they were part of a 15,000 pounds sterling donation to our local Red Cross presented on 29 Sept. 2015, almost eleven months after the date Hon. Baron received the cheque. None of the accused have claimed that Ms. Baron misappropriated the funds. All they ever wanted was clarification, which is properly in the public interest.
Good luck ms. Baron, I understand now that the charity in London, who’s accounts are overdue, may be under investigation itself and if so I’m sure they are very grateful to you for that.
(see also DA Vibes of 23 Feb., 2017)
Malgraysa
So they will explain themselves in court. Why are you presenting their defence on DNO?
I am no law student but logic tells me that sometimes you don’t have to say the actual words. If the innuendo is of a nature which would allow any person hearing it to come to a reasonable conclusion that the victim is guilty or to recognise who is being spoken about when no names are called – “a la calypsonian checko”, then the court has something to deliberate on.
Sometimes the context is also important. In a small country like Dominica where everyone knows their neighbour, the damage to a person can be a thousand times worse than if the same incident occurred in another country where the citizenry are nameless and faceless.
So we shall see, shall we not?
John Simeon, where you come out all of a sudden?….., you are a new one being paid to comment on every post..pram..pram..Hope your salary is not under the NEP cause with that damming IMF report after 16 years in office; some things have to give and who knows the NEP might just go first….
Yes i senator Baron, Give them a dam good whipping the trouble is how can you tell the difference between the two of them? I have never come across such strange people like these two guys by the way Carnival is over why’s that bold head man wearing that stupid rasta wig making him look like an idiot.
That will be an interesting case. As if I read somewhere that the 10 grand claimed to be given to red cross was given by ANOTHER ORGANIZATION IN ENGLAND?
Oh and Francine Darling – is your sister one of the passport agents too?
People keep the prayers coming. More day parlay to come. Tis the season!
Baron needs to sue more than the three because thousands of Dominicans still have lots of question for her and will continue to seek answers. I hope she is prepared to open her own can of worms because we will live no stones unturned.
Baron stop using the Government time, sitting at your desk to engage in your personal affairs and still have the audacity to air it on public media
But the29 of February eh come yet. I suspect a technicality!!
No technicality.
No technicality there. The lawsuit is for slander/libel, not because he didn’t apologise.
Tony you need to get a lifebyou have dominica like is your estate
Your comment is crap. You have a severe problem. Tony is a full-fledged Dominican. Further the Astaphans have invested in Dominica and employed staff. Who are you and what have you done for D/ca or even plan to do? He probably could purchase all of Dominica and you in it.
Dominicans must see what is happening to them whenever a minister don’t like what is been brought to the public Tony steps in and tells them to sue and without any sense they follow his command , Tony have taken just to much money out of Dominica treasury , so showing Skerrit and his ministers the door and stopping Tony from getting any more money from the purse.
More waste of Taxpayers Money..nobody voted for Francine…but many of them find themselves in such powerful positions
Dominica needs a purging from a lot of bad vibes and toxic people..they all need to go from their positions and maybe even leave Dominica for a while..
You right. The uwp toxic people need to be purged from the system
I wonder if you will have a pants left when they finish with you? Why you are not learning from your mistakes! Do you believe that you are bigger than anyone else! People make mistakes, they say, I am SORRY, but base on you lack of humility you are never wrong. According to a verse, you act like a drunk with an empty bottle of Rum in front of you. How much longer will you beg the poor Dominicans to foot your tongue tax bill?
allu must run. i hope gon emmanuel case and de treating case will start before yours
Good it was time and there’s many more to come. ???
It’s funny that these days the opposition keeps getting sued for bring points forward. I’ll ask all those celebrating these lawsuits, what do you think is the purpose of the opposition?
The purpose of opposition is to oppose, propose and dispose …… within the law and with the effect of progressing the country… not to just say what you want how you want without engaging your brain. Every penny they lose in the law courts (and yes .. they will lose this one too) is a penny they cannot spend in legitimate campaigning to gain power and advance the country in the direction they actually want. Never seen so much political idiocy .. Skerrit must be thanking his lucky stars that he has THIS for an opposition.. What if he had to face a Mike …or Eugenia in her pomp ? stupes
DOUBLE A go shut your clappers.
You call this “bring points forward”, if the shoe was on the other foot you would be singing a different tune. Being in opposition doesn’t mean that you have to bring down your country (charity begins at home). Almost every day, be it via the radio or social media someone from the gov’t side is being defamed.
Those of us who think that the grass is greener on the other side……time will tell. Let’s hope that gov’t computers won’t break down at the end of every month.
Definitely not to slander people’s reputation by spreading so called fats that cannot be proven. Their job is to give the citizens a viable alternative. If you don’t agree with something or some policy or whatever they supposed to provide an alternative to the people. Something that makes sense and is for the benefit of all. Not promoting violence as a way to answer problems. You cannot call the government lawless on one hand and other hand you promoting lawlessness in another form. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
There are thousands of people who don’t support the government but neither do they support the opposition. You cannot debate on behalf of the people on a radio station. You have to go where it has relevance., where it counts. You may have issues in parliament yes, but which opposition party in the world doesn’t. At the end of the day your supporters will respect you more for it and it will not be said that you didn’t work.
I am happy that something is happening at that level, and hopefully it will trickle down, it’s amazing how peoples just say what they want in this country, and nothing is done about it, we have the same problems at the street level, distorting and slandering people’s names for absolutely no reason, they say,they say, they say.no facts
Some body has to pay for that, this needs to stop.
Thank you. Make them pay for their tongue.
SMOKE SCREEN!!!!!
This is being reveal now to take away from the MIF report on the sad economic state of our country!
DON’T BE FOOLED BY THIS DISTRACT TATICS
Linton new clothing line is lawsuit ppl beware of buyin that new name brand
If the ministers said something that was not true then they should do the same.
The PM takes no notice of those who slings mud at him he lives everything in the hands of God but continuing to defame peoples good name is deplorable, hence if what you advocating is true then fair play to you all. The courts will decide
Hahahaha but Lennox favourite suit is lawsuit man.
this sounds funny, but only as a play on words..
That is not your, but Delvin Castro, plagerism
Woman, why yo doh go and behave yourzelf.
why join Skerrit and his crap
LOl!
When will these labor party Ministers and Senators put a stop at the manner Tony has been making them look like fools because of his dislike of Lennox. The senator was never accused of stealing any money. For two years many Dominicans including Linton and Allen have been asking her to tell them which charitable organization in Dominica received the check he allegedly received from K.B. Foundation. For two years she had refused to answer Dominicans until now. It is better to be late then never. One thing for sure, she has taken the matter to court, therefore, she must declare all the information concerning this famous check.
Is that Monfared wife nuh? DNO I not saying I just asking. And the big sign written My Dominica Trade House in the background – didn’t they say that was a fake and not true nuh? Papamet!
So Franchine going to court that the money really come from Monfared and his My Dominica Trade House, papamet isn’t that more eveidence for those interested in Monfared and where his money gone. Bravo Francine
On like Mr. Asta,I like big money’s. Being able to read or write does not mean you are educated. Sensible people very rarely caught in scandals of such. God made us to his own image and likeness therefore we don’t come cheap. Give some body a bad name to the world meaning you do not want the person to survive.MS BARON you are the one we want to replace SKERRIT. the libels must pay and pay HARD. If this is the only way they can learn manners and respect so be it.My nice bridge almost completed in Roseau
Way papa, Astaphan know how to make BIG money on these people, you think he working for nothing. Remember he is an the more he gets the more he goes for. He will dry the CBI money.
Astaphan you are not God Almighty, your days are numbered like every one else. Fly you kite high but you can’t reach heaven with it.
Aren’t you concerned that your political leader is unable to bridle his tongue. That being said though the matter has to be arbitrated in court. Francine Baron has to prove the allegations were made and those sued hve to prove that the allegatiosn they made if any are correct. Your view on the matter or mines for that matter means zilt. Absolutely nothing. We can huff and we can puff, it does not serve any of their purposes one bit. In our system of governance, Mr. Linton could very well become Prime Minister at the next elections (not before) and he would still have to answer his name. Remember Edison James and Mamo? He was sued by Mamo whilst in opposition and the matter was not completed ($72,000.00) until after he left government as Prime Minister. You have to warn him. Do your work as a Statesman would. He must take a leaf from Edison James’ time in. Apart from when he libeled Mamo, no other person ever had enough reason to take him to court. A good example for Lennox to follow
@ John Simeon well stated. but your words fall on deaf ears, these UWP are bags of cement filled with ignorance the more sense you pour on them the harder they get! you telling them things they already know but choose to ignore hence ignorance!
Simeon – i suspect you have sold you “balls” and prefer standing in poop. Men like you – i question how do you function as a father to your children and what kind of man you are. Please for once take a closer look and see, remove your head in the sand and for once stand for something – at least for once – stand up. Stop “Hating Linton for speaking truth – consistantly – don’t you realize that the truth has been revealed? For the love of Country – do something for Madam Dominique
Only one set that have to pay for their tongue?
When all those government ministers were saying their nonsense on platform I don’t remember anybody taking them to court?
But doh worry, God is not a police.
one one set making accusations and spreading lies against people as if its true, when in fact they know what they saying is not true and cannot be proven. Yet they still choose to slander people names that are actually doing good things.
The truth will set you free… from lawsuits!
Stupessss…Enough of that suing thing…Start governing Dominica like a country.
No Lenovo! If I slander and libel you, its is your right under the law to make me pay for my tongue. Lennox has every right to sue as he has already given indication that he will be suing some people. It is his rights. Everybody including the Prime Minister, Lennox, Francine, Joshua et all have a right to their good name. No one is entitled to take away that right without just cause. And where I, or you for that matter find my/your reputation is trampled upon. Then there is redress. The problem for me, maybe you too, the cost of securing quality legal representation is expensive. No one believing he has freedom of speech wants what happen to “Checko” and “Cocom” to happen to them – even with the free speech. The rules are there for all. It does not matter what you think of the application of the rules, every human is entitled to their free enjoyment of their good name and reputation.
Couldn’t have said it better. I don’t understand how persons see it as acceptable to slander someone’s name. Whether political or not every citizen has a right to defend his name and reputation. And those who seek to destroy that good image must be held accountable.
BooBoo if what the ministers were saying on the platform is true what you suing them for?