Court appearance expected in alleged ‘rapist ministers’ case

The High Court in Roseau
The High Court in Roseau

Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, and seven other ministers are expected to appear in court today (Tuesday) in an alleged defamation case involving United Workers Party (UWP) leader, Lennox Linton.

All 18 ministers involved in the matter were expected in court on Monday but only 10 showed up.

Attorney representing the ministers, Lennox Lawrence, was fined $3,000 for failing to inform some of his clients of the proceedings.

Reports indicate that one of the ministers was absent with an excuse while the rest had no excuse.

The prime minister, according to the reports, was absent due to a “family emergency.”

Those present were Dr. Colin McIntyre, Reginald Austrie, Ambrose George, Alvin Bernard, Ian Douglas, Rayburn Blackmoore, Julius Timothy, Gloria Shillingford, Matthew Walter and attorney general, Levi Peter.

Those absent were Skerrit, Kelvar Darroux, Dr. Kenneth Darroux, Justina Charles, Ashton Graneau, Petter Saint Jean, Ivor Stephenson and Johnson Drigo. They are expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

The matter was heard in camera, meaning behind closed doors.

Linton was sued by the ministers following remarks he made at a rally in St. Joseph earlier this year 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 was also asked to pay $1-million in compensation.

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45 Comments

  1. John Paul
    October 30, 2014

    Mr. Linton has been the spoke in the wheel of the carriage of Mr. Skeritt that Carriage that was taking Him into the seat of Dictatorship and total enrichment .
    All his plans have to be reviewed and new strategies implemented .Alas He has the record of the Dominican voter working against His favour too If this New Leader only had not reared His ugly head from the PM ‘S perspective Skeritt would have been sitting in the white House that China built with an amended Constitution that makes Him President for life.Change is a must !

  2. Love it
    October 29, 2014

    Again, you are playing the victim! An educated person will not spew so much obscene words, they would sugar coat it. the man mouth is full and malice vile and hatred, It flows freely like diarrhea

  3. Da
    October 29, 2014

    Just like the Edison James case, this one is deliberately dated just before a general election is called. This is being done to discredit Lennox in his effort to unseat this corrupt DLP Govt’
    But Skerrritt and his crooked Lawyers will fail .

  4. St.Joerph
    October 29, 2014

    This Judicial system in Dominica is pure crap!

    • Ma Moses
      October 29, 2014

      We have too many lawyers. You know the old saying that too many cooks spoil the braf? Well, too many lawyers spoil justice.

  5. Anonymous
    October 28, 2014

    Leaders lead by example; and when the PM so called supremo decides that he will attend court when he chooses and blatantly disregards the orders of the Court speaks volumes of the qualifications of Leader of this country. Appearing in court is nothing new to mr. skeritte; so why is he shying away from this one? Has he become so arrogant since most recent court rulings have gone in his favour that he is pompous and above the LAW?

  6. The Facts
    October 28, 2014

    Criminals are judged in absentia and even though they died. Why could the absentee ministers not be granted the same privilege. Did they all have to appear in Court for the preliminary hearing, anyone of them for that matter? Is this not done in Dominica?

    • Titiwi
      October 29, 2014

      I don’t think these Ministers are dead yet Facts. At least I hope they are not.

  7. Tj
    October 28, 2014

    Liinon your lawyers should counter sue for undue harassment

  8. love I
    October 28, 2014

    JUST now that case die…..Lennox Linton do not worry..God has you in the palm of His hand.

  9. Tj
    October 28, 2014

    Why wasn’t the case dismissed and the parties bringing the case charge?

  10. Cyrique
    October 28, 2014

    Linton should not have made such a wild and scurrilous statement. He must learn to be responsible. He has, in my view, accused Ministers of this very serious offence and accusing the Government of harbouring them is an unbelievable statement coming from the mouth of a man who wants to be our PM. every time Linton opens his mouth I fear! I’m a floating voter and I have to say Linton has not instilled any confidence in me. He shoots from the hip at the drop of a hat – NOT GOOD!! This time his mouth got his in big trouble !!

    • The Eye
      October 28, 2014

      No wonder you use your given name.

    • Anonymous
      October 28, 2014

      Cyrique! your pseudo name is synonymous with the mentality of the animal (CRAB) that you obviously articulated in your article. The man “threw his corn” like Bob Marley said and “did not call no fowl”. Are you part of the fowl CARBAL why you are so offended. Let the ministers including the female ones wallow in their corruption and deception bro. Do not judge the brother by his utterances especially when they were not directed at you.

    • TRUTH
      October 28, 2014

      cyrique ,you are really a cyrique ,,,a crab , a senseless one , this is not about linton ,It is about the government ministers ,who took linton to court and is afraid to appear in court themselves ,to defend their case

    • October 29, 2014

      Linton should not agree to any close door deal with those guys it’s about time we the people of Dominica knows what is going on in the Government, , Linton don’t sell us out ok.

    • Cyrique
      October 29, 2014

      I expected a very high level of disagreement however I’ve said exactly what I feel and thanks to DNO for allowing us to have a fair and frank debate. Linton was WRONG!!! We should not sutiwe’ vice!!

  11. 4u2C
    October 28, 2014

    The court is a Joke. It have Lennox Lawrence wasting the court time when there are matters to address and resolve. The court should have charged Lennox Lawrence $3000.00 * 9 = $27000.00. That would send a message to DO NOT WASTE THE COURT TIME!!!

  12. Malgraysa
    October 28, 2014

    By the way, why does this case have to be heard behind closed doors? I’m sure Lennox has nothing to hide and nor should the ministers of govt. if they are innocent of the allegations. I just don;t rust this “closed door” thing in a democratic society. Yes, if it concerns children I could agree but I assume all the players in this case are adult?

    • Anonymous
      October 29, 2014

      I suspect they are trying to get the judge to convict Lennox before calling the election to stop him from standing as a candidate. Evils forces are at work in the country.

    • Gary
      October 29, 2014

      You have written such nonsense. Why don’t you understand what this case is about before making foolishness comments, it’s very sad what politics can do to the mind.

  13. For real
    October 28, 2014

    How could a court accept such a lame excuse? You mean to say that those absent Ministers were not even interested in what transpired in court in their absence?
    Were they living in another planet, or were they insulated from the local news?
    This smells like contempt of Court!

  14. Tj
    October 28, 2014

    When it is convent you must follow the law How come the ministers cannot be in court.

  15. commando
    October 28, 2014

    hold on lennox a bombshell coming those same ministers way,they can do what they want change is a must.

  16. Blog
    October 28, 2014

    So it should be £8000.00 then. What is that Master doing then…

  17. politricks
    October 28, 2014

    up to this day i still can’t see the problem in this statement ‘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’, it’s such a general statement and anyone with morals would endorse such a statement, no one was publicly attacked, names were not called…wow there is a serious case of moral decadence in this country

    • JoJo
      October 28, 2014

      I can’t see the problem either but whomsoever fits the cap, put it on. Boy, I’d love to be in that courtroom and see Lennox make them squirm in cross examination.

      • Gary
        October 28, 2014

        It is amazing at the foolish concept you have regarding this case. Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

      • The Facts
        October 28, 2014

        A person cannot be wrong and strong on it. Keep in mind he accused the PM and all t his ministers. He generalized. This is a crime, a libel case. He must think before he speaks.

      • natty
        October 29, 2014

        I hope that you help lennox pay his million dollars sot.

    • politics
      October 28, 2014

      “it’s such a general statement and anyone with morals would endorse such a statement, no one was publicly attacked, names were not called…wow there is a serious case of moral decadence in this country”…. …. @politricks I guess your leader was addressing a rally in St Lucia and his comments were generally refering to the cabinet members of the government of St Kitts and Antigua. :?: :twisted: :mrgreen:

      • awa wi
        October 28, 2014

        the statement is general no names were mentioned he did not even say in ‘dominica’s government’. for example if someone says “teachers in schools are abusing children and this is a negative practice that should be stopped.” does that mean that every teacher in Dominica can now sue for defamation or libel?
        in your haste to condemn technicalities are being overlooked and it is indeed a shame that the public purse is now being utilized for private pleasure by a few which should be of concern to persons of ethical and moral standards.

      • Gary
        October 29, 2014

        What makes you think that you are correct with that type of nonsensical reference you used regarding the Teachers. This just shows how little you understand the matter at hand regarding defamation. I would like to ask you, what if The Minister Of Education was to say the same thing while addressing a DLP rally, how would you think teachers would feel especially someone who is a teacher,isn’t that injuring of a person’s good name or reputation, who is a Teacher. It’s all about the context in which the statement was made and who made the statement, you fail to establish in your reference such thing.

        When you make reference to the statement quote “it is indeed a shame that the public purse is now being utilized for private pleasure by a few which should be of concern to persons of ethical and moral standards.” well is this a proven fact, also, has anyone come forward to file a case in Court alleging such matter took place, has any Minister been convicted on such matter. Why is it Lennox has to go to Court to prove such things happened to defend himself against a defamation suit, where are the people who were allegedly victimized isn’t that their responsibility to file a case in Court. Why can’t you put aside your political partisan beliefs and see the facts of this matter.

    • Gary
      October 28, 2014

      Wow, The opening sentence of your comment sounds so arrogant and coldhearted. The context in which you choose to understand the statement made by Lennox calling it a general statement is so absurd, how nonsensical you are to say that anyone with morals would endorse such a statement. It bewilders me, why you would write and believe such foolishness.

      The real moral decadence in this country is when people like you
      condone the injuring of a person’s good name or reputation when they seek to get redress in Court., saying the statements alluded to the defamation are general statements and therefore not considered to be defamation.

      • Anonymous
        October 28, 2014

        How can you injure a person’s good name when they have none?

      • politricks
        October 28, 2014

        excuse me? whose name was called?….it doesn’t matter who he was addressing, the fact remains that it’s a general statement, did he say government ministers in dominica?…before you open the mouth skerrit seem to have given you THINK….

  18. hmm
    October 28, 2014

    too many childish drama in this place

  19. Dominican Politics
    October 28, 2014

    Let the RUUUUMMMMBBBLLLLEEEEEEEEE Begin! :-P

  20. October 28, 2014

    Where Mr.Linton getting that million dollars to pay, unless if he get elected Prime minister. Its gonna tuff for him to be elected Mr. Skerit is over spending the UWP, This administration knows how too bride voters.

  21. Doc. Love
    October 28, 2014

    It would appear Skeritt will do anything in order to avoid Mr. Lennox Linton. He refused to a debate and now a court appearance. Skeritt has a lawyer plus the Attorney General to advise him, therefore, he was aware that those who missed the court appearance on Monday will have to come back on Tuesday and those who were present on Monday don’t have to appear on Tuesday. I have a criticism of the Master, any person who missed the court appearance should be charged $1000 per person.

    • JoJo
      October 28, 2014

      I simply do not believe Lennox Lawrence to say that the non-appearance was because he forgot to tell his clients. If that is really, really true it would mean that the claimants do not attach great significance to their case.

  22. October 28, 2014

    Attorney representing the ministers, Lennox Lawrence, was fined $3,000 for failing to inform some of his client of the proceedings That’s nothing the money machine will take care of that.
    It is reported that Skerrit was absent due to a “family emergency Ya Right! Putting a plaque Saying done by P.M RMS in memory of Rosie Douglas and Pierre Charles. Check the plaque on the wall. To anyone reading RMS will take the objective( real or fake on RMS part .
    What a joke. We just continue to be theatrical with our politics Arawark House of culture has a great future. Alwyn, Hyacith ,Bruno, etc you guys have an abundance of material.
    I intend to make my entry as you guys are /have not used the political bloppers in comedy It could be due to fear of the money machine the Neo Labour.Labour in name only LINO.
    Am awaiting the 1:15 p.m news report on what transpired.

  23. TheOriginalBella
    October 28, 2014

    Lol Lennox Lawrence that look for his trouble wi. He and them minsters owing Dominica soooo much money.. so he can pay the 3 thousand dollars man. He reaping off enough of his clients to pay that off. No Biggie.. That is Nuttin!!

    Hahaha

    • Anonymous
      October 28, 2014

      Well, there is a provision on the renaming budget for “incidentals”. Now we know why!

    • !
      October 28, 2014

      ripping…not reaping

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