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| PM Douglas Headed to Court |
| By Sheena Brooks |
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Dr. Denzil Douglas |
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Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and former government minister Cedric Liburd are scheduled to appear in court in November to answer to charges of defamation of character.
The slander case had been brought against the Labour party leader and candidate by People’s Action Movement Deputy Leader Hon. Eugene Hamilton. Hamilton, parliamentary representative for Constituency #8, filed suit against the pair for statements they allegedly made during a 1993 political campaign. The PAM MP claimed the statements were slanderous and defamed his good character.
After the matter failed to be heard in December 2009 and again in April 2010, the case got underway last Thursday, June 10. Hamilton was represented by Attorney Terrence Byron Jr. while Anthony Astaphan SC represented both Dr. Douglas and Liburd.
Last Friday (June 11) Justice Francis Belle dismissed an application filed by the defendants, who sought to have all documents, contracts and correspondence produced for the period when Hamilton was General Manager of the National Insurance Company.
The judge ordered that Dr. Douglas and Liburd pay legal costs to Hamilton and bound the case over for trial on November 15. Hamilton said it came as no surprise that the defendants’ application was dismissed since it had no merit and was merely a ‘fishing expedition’.
“They made an application for certain things to be introduced in my case like witness statements, etcetera, but the application was bad and long in Law. The judge saw through it and dismissed the application,” he told The Observer.
Hamilton said it was not about the money, but based on principles and that the PM and Liburd had been made to pay for their “obvious delay tactics”.
“It’s not about how much they have to pay, it’s the fact that they tried to waste the court’s time with applications that didn’t have a chance to succeed. They also have before the Appellate Court applications for the Court of Appeal to grant them a stay; in other words, to prevent the case from being tried. The Court of Appeal has said they have to bring that to a hearing when they are in St. Kitts in September. They are trying everything, all kinds of applications, to prevent the case from being heard.”
Hamilton said he suspects that the Court of Appeal will “wipe the floor with them”.
“What they are asking for I don’t think the Court of Appeal will be able to grant them that; in fact, I don’t think their application might have any relevance now, especially since a trial date has already been set.”
With regard to the Labour Party’s election petition challenging his qualification to hold office that has contested the election and his place in parliament, MP Hamilton said it holds no merit.
“The petition they brought before the court with reference to me not being qualified to contest the January 25th general elections on the basis of dual citizenship, they haven’t withdrawn it yet, but I expect that they would in time.” Hamilton disclosed via court documents that he is the holder of a U.S. Green card but told The Observer that he is not a citizen of any other country besides his native St. Kitts. |
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