Church leader ordered to pay woman $10,000 for defamation

A church leader has been ordered to compensate a woman $10,000 after he was found to have defamed her during an alleged exorcism published on his church’s Facebook page.

Gillian Alves, on whom Jason Providence allegedly performed the “exorcism” must also compensate La Tecia James $5,000.

Jason Providence, head of The Life by Faith Ministries located at Arnos Vale was ordered on Friday, September 8 to compensate La Tecia James of Mustique a sum of $10,000, while Colonaire resident, Gillian Alves, on whom he allegedly performed the “exorcism” must compensate James $5,000.

The defamation suit, which was heard at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate John Ballah on August 31, stemmed from a video that was posted to The Life by Faith Ministries Facebook page on February 3, 2022.

The video, which got more than 11,000 views on Facebook, showed Alves standing before Providence at his church believed to be possessed by what was understood to be an evil spirit, locally referred to as a “jumbie”.

When Providence addressed the ‘spirit’, as is his practice, he asked it “Who sent you?”, Alves responded that one “Latty Hazell” had sent it, a claim which made James feel that she was the target, as she is popularly known by that name.

Black magic, popularly known as obeah in St Vincent and the Grenadines is a criminal offence and anyone found guilty is liable to imprisonment for one year.

After the trial, James told SEARCHLIGHT that she was “humiliated” when she saw the “nasty” comments that were made about her after the video was posted, and so she asked Providence to remove it or she “will let the law deal with it” but he did not comply.

“Just like that your live stained my name and tarnish my reputation all over the place” ; “I didn’t do this lady anything” ; “You really sent me at rock bottom and I do not appreciate that,” her text messages to Providence read.

However, it was not until she received text messages from Alves saying: “Whish your f- with me, am coming for you,” ; “what u do to me,” ; “I will f- u up” that James decided it was time to bring the matter before the court.

During the trial, Providence, who represented himself questioned James about her legal name, however, this line of argument was not entertained by the magistrate.

Providence also asked James if there’s a possibility that the name which was used in the video could have been said in reference to anyone else, but James explained that she and Alves have been long-term friends, and the names “Latty” and “Hazell” are what she is popularly known by.

One witness was called to testify on James’s behalf by her lawyer Duane Daniel, while Providence also called one witness.

When SEARCHLIGHT contacted Providence yesterday, he refused to comment on the outcome of the case.

The video has since been removed from the church’s Facebook page, which at press time had 125,000 followers.