By Klieon John
St. Kitts Reporter.
The People’s Action Movement (PAM) owned Democrat newspaper will have to dole out a whopping EC$206,500 dollars following a civil ruling in a libel suit brought against them in 2003.
The punitive damages were awarded to Earl Asim Martin, Earl Clarke, his then campaign manager, and Dawud ‘Madada’ Byron, editor of The Labour Spokesman, in the amounts of EC$70,000, EC$50,000 and EC$48,000 respectively.
Reliable sources informed this newspaper that the issue, dated 13-19 December 2003, featured an article in the Man Over the Wall section, which accused the plaintiffs of involvement in the narcotics trade.
According to these sources, The Democrat did not attempt to provide any representation in their defence and even offered a settlement of EC$10,000 for each plaintiff. This was reportedly refused and another offer of EC$20,000 was made, which was also refused.
The matter was therefore heard by Justice Francis Bell and on Friday November 2, 2007, the judge handed down a ruling ordering the newspaper to pay up.
The Observer attempted to get a reaction from the PAM camp, but the collective word from the Opposition officials as well as from the newspaper itself, with regards to the facts of the case were “I do not know” or “No comment”.
Although unconfirmed reports have it that the party intends to appeal the ruling, no confirmation was forthcoming from the PAM executive body.
