AG sues Kamla, media

The writ was filed in the Port-of-Spain High Court registry yesterday by attorney Michael Bullock. The defendants named are Persad-Bissessar; Sasha Mohammed, reporter; Grenfel Kissoon, publisher; Sita Bridgemohan, Sunday Editor, Trinidad Publishing Company; Kim Boodram, reporter; Craig Reynald, publisher; Keith Smith, editor; and the Trinidad Express Newspapers Ltd.

Jeremie claims damages, aggravated and exemplary, for alleged slander contained in an address by Kamla Persad-Bissessar at a public meeting at the intersection of the Southern Main Road, and the Caparo Valley Brasso Road, Montrose, Chaguanas, on May 13.

The Attorney General is also claiming damages for alleged libel arising out of the publication of the said address on a radio programme; alleged libel on page five of the Sunday Guardian of May 15 headlined "Kamla calls for truth about affidavits from Jeremie", and alleged libel on page four of the Sunday Express newspaper of May 15 headlined "Probe Khan and Talisman link."

Jeremie wants an injunction to restrain the defendants from further speaking, publishing or causing to be published similar words defamatory of him.

Jeremie became Attorney General on November 10, 2003, replacing Glenda Morean-Phillip, who is now the Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner in London. Jeremie is responsible for anti-corruption, being charged with the responsibility for the administration of legal affairs in Trinidad and Tobago.

Persad-Bissessar is the Member of Parliament for Siparia and a former Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Education in the previous UNC Government.

According to a statement of claim accompanying the writ, a meeting was held at the intersection of the Southern Main Road and the Caparo Valley Brasso Road, Montrose, Chaguanas, on May 13 where Persad-Bissessar was invited to deliver an address.

According to the plaintiff’s statement, Persad-Bissessar well knew that representatives of the media were present for the purposes of making a report of her address and for furnishing it for publication.

Jeremie contends among other things, that the words of the address in their natural and ordinary meaning meant and were understood to mean that he was engaged in an act of misconduct while in the Office of Attorney General, and that the Prime Minister was considering his removal from the Office of Attorney General.

Jeremie contends further that Persad-Bissessar’s statements and the publication have injured his character, credit and reputation as a lawyer and Attorney General.

Efforts to reach Persad-Bissessar were unsuccessful.