Judge to rule in CEPEP/Moonilal libel case

Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh yesterday reserved his ruling on a libel counter-claim filed by Community- based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme Company (Cepep) against Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, who first sued the state agency for defamation.

Boodoosingh is expected to, on January 18, give his decision on an application by Moonilal’s attorneys to have Cepep’s counter-claim struck out.

Moonilal’s attorney Larry Lalla in his submissions argued that Cepep was not a trading company and had failed to show how its reputation required protection, when it received an annual allocation from the government in the national budget and did not earn revenue or compete with any entity on the open market.

Lalla said the company, which was established by the Cabinet to carry out a government programme, cannot have a long standing reputation, as argued by its lawyer, led by Elton Prescott SC.

He said Cepep’s reputation changes with each elected government in office.

“What products does Cepep sell requiring protection of its good reputation?” Lalla asked, adding that it cannot be in the public’s interest for a company which received over $500 million in the national budget, to sue for defamation and fetter a citizen’s freedom of speech.

Moonilal’s claim for defamation was filed after the Cepep company issued a full-page statement in the press, on August 24, in which it alleged misappropriation of $39.6 million in funds on construction projects in his Oropouche East constituency.

In its own defamation counterclaim, the Cepep Company has sought an injunction to restrain Moonilal from making further statements relating to its operations, but was withdrawn on the same day the judge was expected to deliver his ruling on whether it should be granted.

Also appearing for the Cepep Company are Phillip Lamont and Farai Hove Masaisai while Jagdeo Singh, Kiel Tacklalsingh and Vivek Lakhan-Joseph also represent Moonilal