Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica Air & Seaport Authority (DASPA) Benoit Bardouille has filed a defamation lawsuit against Member of Parliament for the Marigot Constituency Anthony Charles.
Bardouille, through the law firm of Platinum Law Chambers (Lennox Lawrence), had written to Charles demanding an apology and over three hundred thousand dollars for comments Charles made in an interview with EmoNews deemed defamatory to Bardouille.
In his Statement of Claim, Bardouille states that his reputation has been “seriously damaged and he has suffered considerable distress and embarrassment” by the comments of Charles who has not denied the said statements in a pre-action letter sent to him.
He also states that the said allegations of “criminality” (mentioned by Charles) have “injured the Claimant’s personal and professional reputation in Dominica but more so both regionally and internationally before persons and regional and international organizations particularly concerned with drug trafficking, airport security and safety for air travel.”
The suit DOMHCV2023/2015 filed at the High Court in Roseau on September 13, 2023, is seeking damages inclusive of exemplary and aggravated damages for “defamation by libel and slander contained in a statement made by the defendant and published on Emonews an online publication with wide viewership on or about July 24, 2023.”
He is also seeking an injunction to restrain the Defendant whether by himself his servants or agents or otherwise, from publishing further and republishing or causing to be published the said or similar statements or words defamatory of the Claimant.
Charles, through the Law firm of Haj Chambers represented by Joshua Francis, has acknowledged the suit and is now in the process of preparing and filing a defense.