Apologise, pay $750,000 or face court action!

Apologize, pay a total of $750,000, and promise not to repeat similar statements or face a court battle.{{more}}

That was the essence of the letters sent by the law firm Williams & Williams to Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace, New Democratic Party (NDP) radio host Elwardo Lynch, and BDS Limited (operators of NICE Radio) on September 5, on behalf of their client, Senator Julian Francis.

About three weeks ago, on his radio programme “New Times”, Lynch spoke about an alleged beach gathering involving Minister of Housing Julian Francis, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Lenroy Brewster and a person referred to as ‘Que Pasa’.

“These allegations are completely and totally false and constitute a grave slander upon our client personally and by way of his office as a Minister of Her Majesty’s Government,” states the letter sent by the law firm.

“The statements were calculated to disparage our client’s reputation and show his unfitness to hold the office as Minister and Government Senator,” the letter says.

Both ACP Lenroy Brewster and Senator Julian Francis had condemned the statements made on the radio programme as totally untrue and malicious, but now Senator Francis has taken his objection to a different level.



When contacted by SEARCHLIGHT, Eustace said that he did not want to comment on the letter, but would make a televised statement within a few days.

He said that he will address the matter within the frame work of what could be said, “Considering it is now a court matter.”

Douglas De Freitas, Manager of BDS limited, confirmed that he had received the letter, and planned to turn it over to his lawyers.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-law Richard Williams, of Williams & Williams, says that Senator Francis is determined to see the matter through to the end, and is by no stretch of the imagination bluffing on this matter.

“I have not seen any response to the letters, but we intend to follow through on it,” Williams said.

He said that once the seven-day deadline for a response is up (Thursday, September 13), then his firm will immediately start legal proceedings.

So it seems that what has been termed a beach drama may yet turn into a legal Tsunami.