KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — The High Court has struck out the defence of talk show host Junior Bacchus and BDS Limited, owners of Nice Radio, in a defamation case brought against them by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.
The judgement stems from statements Bacchus made last year on Nice Radio.
Bacchus had commented about the alleged ownership of state lands by Gonsalves, his wife, and the chairman of National Properties Limited, a state-owned company.
“This serious allegation was presented as a fact and there is no indication in the defence that any steps were taken to verify his information or that any comment was sought from the claimant,” Master Cheryl Mathurin said in a written judgement.
She further said there was no indication that the defendants tried to verify ownership of land by searching at the Land Registry.
“… The tone of the article is not investigative and does not raise questions as to if and how the claimant came to own state lands, as alleged. There is no question anywhere that there was any urgency in informing the public of this matter,” Master Mathurin said.
“In the premises, having examined the pleadings of the defendants, I conclude that they have no prospect of establishing that they acted in accordance with the tenets of responsible journalism or that they had a duty to broadcast to the public and that the public had an interest in receiving the broadcast.
Gonsalves, speaking to reporters afterwards said that he has always encouraged people to be careful when bringing his character into disrepute.
“And, worst of all, when you bring in [my] family. Just leave me alone with these things,” said Gonsalves who has successfully sued other Nice Radio talk show hosts.
“Don’t judge me on the basis of how you all operate — just being willy-nilly. No. I don’t own any state lands. And if I were to own any state lands, it wouldn’t be surreptitiously. It would be through proper procedure.”
@Bojangles: Well said…..I wouldn’t hold my breath either! lol
OK POSSE PEOPLE, PLEASE DOH POST ON THIS TOPIC BECAUSE ALLU TELL ME LONG TIME IS SKERRIT THAT OWN DE VILLAS….
Well Skerit now is your turn. If the Villa are not yours follow your padner Gonsalves. lmao… that Lennox waiting for so long, he beggin you to sue him and you not doing it.. sue him! Let’s hear the truth… take it to court and may the truth prevail! rotflmba
It seems to me that if Mr.Skerrit and his supporters are so confident, that the TALK SHOW HOSTS, & JOURNALISTS ARE SULLYING HIS GOOD NAME, this is a perfect opprtunity for him to SUE THE PANTS OFF THESE MISCHIEF MAKERS & GET RID OF THE RUMOURS(TRUTH) once and for all.
I am confident if he takes such action, the RESULTS WILL BE THE SAME as occurred when he sued Matt Pelletier over the Newspaper Article “MILLION DOLLAR ASSETS, $5000.00 SALARY”.
If I recall the Stae Coffers became a few THOUSAND DOLLARS RICHER !!! .
Mr PM in the interest of our NATIONAL TREASURY I suggest you “TAKE THESE PEOPLE TO COURT AND PUT AN END TO ALL THE MISCHIEF THEY HAVE CREATED.
Immagine, you would become a NATIONAL HERO and THE NATIONAL TEASURY would become richer by MILLIONS of DOLLARS which would suddenly appear out of NOWHERE, because you would have proven in a LEGITIMATE COURT OF LAW, that “THE VILLAS ARE NOT YOURS”
and the biggest victory of all THE MISCHIEF MAKERS WOULD BE SILENCED ONCE AND FOR ALL !!
This I’m sure would be the ULTIMATE VICTORY, so Mr PM, take a page out of your Colleague’s book, as this is the only way you can “SHUT UP AND SILENCE THE LIKES OF MATT PELLETIER, LENNOX LINTON & EDISON JAMES.
I await your taking action, but not with bated breadth !!!!
@Godson: What’s keeping him from doing so?
@Just giving my small view:
Mangoes and coconuts my friend, even in Matt’s case. Did you read and understand what the judge said, I suggest you go back and read it.
Comrade Skerrit with these allegation flying about are you not equally concerned about sullying your good name and you sterling character being brought to disrepute. Is there a law stating that when you are in active politics in the Commonwealth of DOMINICA, people can acuse you of anything and you just try to counteract the accusations with two “SPIN DOCTORS” on Kairi FM and that’s it…. NO LAWSUIT! Something is terribly wrong here
SUE LENNOX LINTON, Q95, and the HOST OF THEM or do you wait for your family to be implicated (LIKE IN GONSALVES CASE) before you can take people to court. My good friend a appeal to you sir, let us preserve your good name, LET “DEM FELLAS” PAY FOR THEIR TONGUE!
Well Mr. Pm if Lennox and Matt is defaming you it is your time to do like Comrade Ralph and file a suit against them If not then the villas are truly yours and you need to resign from public office. As someone who voted labour in the mahaut constituency last election i am waiting on your next move. Still love you but is time to clear to air and make Lennox and Matt pay for their tongues.
sorry to say in Dominica’s case the Prime Minister is in fact Plum in front Wicket…
think he misjudge the control of the bowler and didnt seem to realise this bowler doesnt bowl
no balls deliverer was good from the crease…and hawk eyes says pitching on dead as the ball kept extremly low which the poor batsman couldnt pad out as he being doing since he came to wicket back in 2004………………..
gonsalves and rossie ,,,,, men of same principles
@Hol Dem:
tell allu padna to gooo riggght ahead and sue somebody if they lying on him nuh….
i triple dare him!..
Q95 fm turn coming
Take Note Dominicans and make adjustments for us to laugh at all u Radio people
Imagine that ehh,well the PM of Dominica should do the same against Lennox Linton to stop the madness..
So the question is why the our PM is so scared of taking our Talk Show Hosts to court..Is it that he hates his good name?…I doubt it very much…He is scared of the can of worms which will be opened !!!
Should be a blue print for Dominica.
So why can’t Mr PM (Skerrit) take leagal action against THE investigative news man? is because he know the vliias is his! and i think is time we set an example for all those who does watch people that not on thier levels and call them batty man, to court make them pay, DEFAMATION OF CHARACTOR!!!!the law is there!
For true if i am the pm of a country how can i allow citizens to defame my charater and do nothing about it. i must the another jesus christ. so how i as pm expect the youth to respect me when i allowing people to say lies on me?man common sense someting wung
Yes, time to shut up some people here
The talk show people here who try to make the populace angry by saying and saying anything and defaming persons character .. Take note!
“In the premises, having examined the pleadings of the defendants, I conclude that they have no prospect of establishing that they acted in accordance with the tenets of responsible journalism or that they had a duty to broadcast to the public and that the public had an interest in receiving the broadcast.
One of the Talk show host came to a Bank Shareholders meeting earlier this year and tried the same tatics he has been using on the radio wanting the bank directors to divulge information about their clients transactions. NB the client was not a Public Figure. Doesn’t this journalist know what is privacy? It would seem that all our transactions should be made public so we now have no privacy. Unfortunately he was not allowed with his witch hunting tatics. Sir, please do some more constructive journalism. You are ony hurting yourself. It can be heard in your voice. Did you not learn from your past experience overseas in a small caribbean island? This article should jig those who coordinate those talk shows which further instigate the masses and encourage gossip. Remember gossip is not always truthful.
Let us go after all the HATERZ and JEALOUSMONGERS in DA!!