By Prior Beharry
POLITICAL leader of the Progressive Empowerment (PEP) Party Phillip Edward Alexander is to pay Minister of Finance Colm Imbert $525,000 in damages.
Imbert stated in a Twitter post on Friday: “I got an award for defamation of $525K today against Phillip Alexander. He had falsely alleged that I purchased an exotic Swedish sports car for US$2M using forex that I obtained by corrupt means or by abusing my office as the MOF.”
He also attached the judgement dated September 19, 2023, to the tweet. AZP News told that the final judgement was issued on Friday.
Justice Jacqueline Wilson ruled, “On the facts of this case and having regard to the nature of the allegations, the manner and duration of the publications and the claimant’s status as Minister of Finance, I have concluded that an award in the sum of $525,000 is appropriate compensation to the claimant as general damages, and I so order.
“I also grant an injunction restraining the defendant from further publishing or causing to be published the said statements or any similar statements in respect of the claimant.”
The judge said, “The defendant’s publications were made over a period of approximately twenty-four hours.
“In general terms, they assert that the claimant purchased a luxury vehicle for the sum of two million united states dollars, using foreign exchange that he had obtained by corrupt means or by abusing his office as Minister of Finance; that he was able to procure a unique registration number for the said vehicle by abusing his office as a Government Minister and by colluding with persons in public office; and that he and the persons with whom he had colluded should be made to account for their actions.
“In so far as the publications allege that the claimant obtained a substantial amount of foreign exchange by corrupt means and that he procured benefits to which he would not otherwise be entitled by abusing his power as a Government Minister, the publications are defamatory.”
Justice Wilson dismissed Alexander’s complete defence of Reynold’s Privilege, saying that if the comments were in the public interest, they must be determined if they were a product of responsible journalism.
She said, “In cross-examination, the defendant acknowledged that, prior to making the publications, he made no effort to contact the claimant or the persons with whom the claimant is reported to have colluded in obtaining the foreign exchange.”
Justice Wilson said, “On the facts of this case, the defendant has failed to establish that the steps he had taken to gather and publish the information were responsible and fair.”
Russell Martineau, SC, and Jason Mootoo, SC, instructed by Romney Thomas appeared for Imbert while Alexander was represented by Arron Smith instructed by Amelia Kamraj.
