After seeking an extension to file its defence in the more than $100 million libel suit brought against it by former President David Granger, the new position of the Kaieteur News (KN) is that it will not contest the matter and therefore will no longer be filing a defence.
At a hearing on Wednes-day, Justice Nareshwar Harnanan had sanctioned and ordered the newspaper company to pay costs in the sum of $150,000 for not filing its defence within the time stipulated.
Sometime after the hearing, however, the costs order was recalled after KN indicated that it would not file a defence, but will instead abide by whatever decision the Court makes in Granger’s claim.
When contacted yesterday, KN’s lawyer Shaunella Glen, confirmed to this newspaper that her clients will indeed no longer be filing a defence.
She explained that it was on this basis that the judge recalled the costs imposed.
Explaining why the defence had not been filed within time, Glen on Wednesday told the Court that she had been belatedly retained by the KN.
She said she had only received the files in the matter late on Monday, and with Tuesday being a public holiday was unable to prepare a defence in time for the hearing; though she said it was in the process of being prepared.
It was in those circumstances that she sought an extension of time to file the defence on behalf of her clients—National Media and Publishing Company which publishes the KN, its Editor-in-Chief Sharmain Grainger and owner Glenn Lall.
For not filing the defence, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde who represents Granger, made an application for a default judgment against KN which the judge said he will reserve a ruling on until the substantive claim has been fully heard and determined.
Granger has filed a $2.6 billion lawsuit against dailies— KN, Stabroek News, and the Guyana Times, which he says have all besmirched his character through letters published in the name of communications specialist Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento.
In his action Granger said that Nascimento, accuses him of attempting to defy the will of the people in the March 2nd, 2020 Elections.
The former president said that the statements, which he described as libellous by Nascimento, were published by the Guyana Times on May 23rd last year, both in its print and online versions.
He is seeking in excess of $100 million jointly and severally against the Guy-ana Times and its Editor-in-Chief Tusika Martin.
He then seeks damages in excess of $50 million against Nascimento whom he said also libeled him on June 5th, 2020, through the online news platform INEWS.
The Claimant deposes in his SOC that Nascimento on June 5th last, libeled him through a certain publication by the Kaieteur News in its print and online editions. Against them he is seeking more than $100 million in damages.
Against the Stabroek News, the former president is also seeking damages in excess of $100 million jointly and severally also, against the newspaper and its Editor-in-Chief Anand Persaud, which he said published letters written by Nascimento.
