Former prime minister Dr. Denzil Douglas
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Lawyers for former prime minister Dr Denzil Douglas are demanding an apology and significant sums in damages from people who used social media to claim that the United States had revoked the visa of their client ahead of the last general election.
Pre-action protocol letters have already been sent to two people here demanding the apology, a retraction of the posting on Facebook and at least EC$300,000 (One Ec dollar =US$0.37 cents) in damages.
In the letter, the attorneys claim that the posting by a “public and outspoken supporter of the current administration” on March 11, was made without any form of research.
“It is clear that you are not concerned with the true position. You acted with clear and transparently dishonest intention or with extreme recklessness in order to cause maximum damage to the former Prime Minister with the outrageous allegation,” the letter stated.
The letters to the two people indicate that Dr Douglas, who served as prime minister for 20 years, takes serious issue with the allegations and in particular attempts to “scandalize his name, reputation and legacy.”
The lawyers note that while the former prime minister welcomes political debate, it is apparent that the recipients were “solely motivated to damage Dr Douglas’ good name for partisan political purposes.”
The March 19 letters gave the two respondents 48 hours to respond and in the absence of a “speedy and constructive response,” it warned that the former prime minister will have no choice but to begin proceedings for defamation.