The High Court has dismissed the claim of defamation made against Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley by Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr. Roodal Moonilal.
High Court Justice Carol Gobin determined that the Claimant’s case against the Defendant’s is dismissed with costs.
On the issue of the quantum of costs, the appropriate order should be costs on the prescribed scale, but the court will allow the parties seven days to indicate any other view on the issue.
The lawsuit originated from a series of WhatsApp exchanges between Dr. Rowley and Fixin T&T founder Kirk Waithe that were published by the Express. Dr. Moonilal’s complaint was limited to to his involvement in alleged corrupt activities involving $120 million in relation to the HDC Eden Gardens project.
In her ruling, Justice Carol Gobin said persons choosing to enter the cut and thrust of politics do not surrender their individual right to reputation. Justice Gobin stated in cases of this type, the Courts continue to balance that right on the one hand with the right of all citizens including their adversaries to hold and express political views even brutally and the right of the press to report on them.
She said politicians would do well to recognise and accept that increasingly the scales are tipping in favour of protecting the right to free political expression in a democracy, as Courts acknowledge the importance of political debate and its vital role in achieving transparency and accountability in the affairs of government and promoting the rule of law.