PM Browne to sue political opponents for defamation
Prime Minister Gaston Browne delivered on his New Year’s promise to take legal action against anyone who defames his character as his attorney has sent a pre-action protocol letter to one political opponent.
Browne’s attorney, Dr David Dorsett, sent the letter to former United Progressive Party (UPP) St John’s Rural North candidate Pearl Quinn-Williams after she held up a placard that level several allegations against Browne at a recent protest.
Dorsett appeared on the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Services’ Evening Newscast on Tuesday, where he said other letters would be sent out to St Mary South Member of Parliament Kelvin “Shugy” Simon after he challenged Browne to sue him for reposting an image of the placard on his Facebook page and the Antigua Observer for republishing the offensive material in an online edition of the newspaper.
Dorsett told presenter Garfield Burford that he found it “mind-boggling” that Simon and the Antigua Observer would republish potentially defamatory material.
Simon and the Antigua Observer will be served with their letters today, according to Dorsett.
During his recent radio program on Pointe FM 99.1, Browne promised to protect his reputation fiercely.
The prime minister denied all of the allegations of corruption levied against him.
Browne said anyone who “crosses the line…will have to pay.”
“My position is I’m not arguing with them; I’m taking them straight to court. So if, for example, you said I’m corrupt, then I’m going to give you the option to go to court and prove it,” Browne said.
Browne said he isn’t being petty as criticism comes with being prime minister, but his opponents should not go into the realm of personal attacks and spreading misinformation.
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