Lambert Marks sues ‘Kaieteur News’, ‘Prime News’
Guyana Chronicle
March 25, 2004
Commissioner of Customs and Trade Administration, Mr. Lambert Marks, filed two libel actions yesterday against National Media Publishing Ltd., publisher of Kaieteur News, Adam Harris and Glen Lall, and against Prime News Inc., and Adam Harris.
In his statement of claim issued by Senior Counsel Mr. Rex McKay, Marks is saying that the first defendant is the printer and publisher of Kaieteur News, and the second defendant is and was at all times the Editor- in-Chief of the said newspaper. The third defendant is and was at all material times the publisher of the said newspaper.
The plaintiff stated that in an article falsely and maliciously printed by the first defendant and published by the second and third defendants of and concerning the plaintiff and of him in the way of his profession on page 14 of the issue of Kaieteur News of February 12, 2004, certain defamatory statements.
The plaintiff claims that the said words were false and in their natural and ordinary meanings and or by way of innuendo meant and were understood to mean that the audit investigation found that the plaintiff had committed unlawful acts in his office as Commissioner of Customs and Trade Administration hence the recommendation for disciplinary action against him by the President. The plaintiff will rely on the entire report published by the defendant for its full force and effect.
Marks is claiming a sum in excess of $1M as compensatory damages for libel falsely and maliciously printed and published by the defendants under the heading, “Customs investigation report with President Jagdeo”.
In relation to Prime News and Adam Harris, the plaintiff is also claiming a sum in excess of $1M as damages for libel in a television news broadcast in Guyana entitled Prime News falsely and maliciously written and published by the second defendant and published by the first defendant on February 11, 2004 and repeated on February 12, 2004.
The plaintiff is also seeking an injunction restraining the defendants and each of them by themselves, their servants or agents or otherwise whomsoever, howsoever from further publishing or circulating of the plaintiff the said or any similar libel. (George Barclay)