Bankruptcy Petition against Nice Radio adjourned until July 24

The hearing of a Bankruptcy Petition filed against BDS Ltd by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and his lawyers has been adjourned to July 24, 2017.

On Wednesday, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, lawyer for BDS Ltd told SEARCHLIGHT the matter was adjourned at the request of the Prime Minister and his lawyer on Monday, July 26.

“We filed an objection to their petition and they said they needed time to consider it,” Bacchus-Baptiste told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday.

She explained that they objected to the petition on the grounds that it was not in compliance with the provisions of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and its regulations.

Gonsalves filed the bankruptcy petition on June 12, 2017, five years after BDS Ltd, parent company of Nice Radio was ordered to pay him $166,625 in damages and cost. The sum has since ballooned to $201,495.31, based on an interest of five per cent per annum.

The Prime Minister was awarded the money on February 10, 2012, after he successfully sued Matthew Thomas and BDS Ltd for slander, because of comments made by Thomas on Nice Radio.

In an effort to raise the funds to prevent the radio station from going off the air, two radiothons were held last week. And according the Bacchus-Baptiste, “a fair sum of money” has so far been raised. Another radiothon was held Wednesday night and a boat ride and picnic are scheduled for July 23, to try to come up with the money.