Opposition Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira has filed a more than $900 million lawsuit against the Kaieteur News, Guyana Times, the Department of Public Information, the Attorney General and the Minister of Labour for what he alleges are libelous statements made against him.
In his statement of claim (SOC), Figueira contends that the libelous statements were in the main made by Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton and published by the listed media entities.
Figueira (the claimant) alleged that Hamilton made certain libelous statements against him earlier this week on his Facebook page which were then published by the Kaieteur News.
Within this said week, the Opposition MP said that Hamilton allegedly again made defamatory statements which were this time published by the Guyana Times newspaper and then online by the Department of Public Information.
Figueira is seeking among other things, orders that the news entities publish retractions of the offending statements made by the labour minister.
He also wants an injunction restraining Hamilton—whether by himself or his servants and or agents from “posting, printing, publishing, sharing, recording or otherwise recreating and disseminating” what he said are the defamatory statements made against him.
Like injunctions are also being sought against the news agencies.
Meanwhile, apart from those prohibiting injunctions, the claimant is seeking mandatory injunctions compelling the media outlets, whether by themselves, their servants and or agents to forthwith permanently remove the offending articles from their online sites.
In his action, Figueira is also hoping that the court would grant him exemplary damages, aggravated damages and interest at a rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing of its judgment and thereafter at a rate of 4% per annum from the date of judgment until fully paid.
He also wants any further order the court deems just to grant as well as court costs in his favour.
The MP said that because of the statements complained of, his personal and professional reputation and standing have been irreparably and severely damaged; while adding that they seem calculated to affect him as a politician and a leader in his community and country as a whole.
He goes on to say that statements complained of “have no basis in fact, are malicious, grossly inaccurate and intended to deceive the public.”
Through his attorneys Roysdale Forde and Olayne Joseph, the clai-mant said that as a consequence of the statements, his “character, credit, reputation and profession” have been brought into “public scandal, odium and contempt.”
In the circumstances, he is hoping that the court would grant the orders sought.
