Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s defamation lawsuit against Martin DeLuca and the international law firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP will proceed after the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court rejected the firm’s attempt to have the claim struck out at a preliminary stage.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said Thursday that Browne updated Cabinet on the proceedings during its weekly meeting Wednesday.
According to Merchant, Master Carlos Cameron-Michel dismissed the law firm’s application July 21. The firm is named as the second defendant in the proceedings.
The application reportedly argued, among other things, that Browne’s claim did not comply with certain provisions of the Civil Procedure Rules and disclosed no reasonable grounds for bringing a defamation claim.
“After hearing submissions from the parties and considering the written arguments and supporting authorities, the court refused the application for dismissal,” Merchant said during the post-Cabinet news briefing.
The court ordered Boies Schiller Flexner to pay EC$1,500 in costs by Aug. 12 and directed the firm to file its defence by Sept. 4. Browne will then be allowed to file a reply within the period prescribed by the court.
The case is expected to proceed to case management in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules.
Browne told Cabinet that the decision represented an important procedural milestone because it allows the substantive issues raised in his claim to be considered by the court on their merits.
“I welcome the court’s ruling, which has reaffirmed the importance of truth, fairness and accountability in public discourse,” Browne said.
“While robust opposition and debate is an essential feature of any democracy, defamatory statements that unjustly damage an individual’s reputation have no place in our society,” he added.
Browne said the development was “not simply a personal vindication, but also a reminder that freedom of expression carries corresponding responsibilities.”
The ruling does not determine the merits of Browne’s defamation allegations. It allows the claim to proceed through the court.
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This is what I don’t like about this man..for his own personal gain, he will take anyone to court, but when the voting public was encouraging him to go after those who ripped off the Treasury to the tune of over $15mil in vehicle procurement, he quickly claim that it will cost the government too much money and bother, and refuse to pursue a case.
The very same thing he did when he was asked to dig deeper and investigate the Antigua Airways debacle, he said it was not in the best interest of the government to pursue that case as well.
If you had fight as hard for your voters as you did for yourself GB, the island would have been 20-25 years ahead of where it is today in your 12 year reign.
Nothing wrong with your lawsuit, but clamp down on those who are scamming the people everyday, including some of your corrupt cops who are on the take.
No investigation into the Manny murder, none into the Kaleel murder, but you are quick to give lawyers big money when say the slightest thing about you.
Well you can sue me as well, but I guess you don’t have a clue who I am, because I think you are the biggest crook in government in the Caribbean, you and your partner in crime Skeritt.
Yes I said it!
WHAT THE HELL…! …CABINET NOTES REFLECTING LITIGIOUS DEFAMATION PROCEEDINGS?
***
Not sure how the hell: a
(a) ‘…PRELIMINARY RULING: in
(b) …NON-GOVERNMENTAL-INSTITUTED CIVIL PROCEEDINGS:
(d) …REFLECTED AS REPRESENTING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS OF CABINET: then being
(e) …REPORTED THROUGH THIS NEWS PORTAL ‘…ANR:’ over
(f) …NON-COMPLIANT WITH ‘…CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES’ [Paragraph 4].
***
NOT TO BE SEEN: …NOT TO BE PERCEIVED
***
The ‘…JUDICIARY AND THE EXECUTIVE: shall
(i) …NEVER BE SEEN AS ‘…COUCHING OR FLIRTING’ WITH EACH OTHER.’
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
NO ‘…CABINET COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR,’ SHALL EVER SEEK TO TARNISH OR BRING REPUTATIONAL BLEMISH: upon
(a) ‘…ANY NON-BIASED:
(b) …INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL OFFICER: not even
(c) ‘…THE LOWLY JUDICIALLY-RANK ‘…MASTER CARLOS CAMERON-MICHEL:
(d) …PARTICULARLY WITH HOPEFUL ASPIRATIONS TO THE JUDGESHIP.’
***
THOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT, THEY SHALL STILL BE MINDFUL OF THE EMBARRASSMENT RECENTLY CAUSED TO ‘…JUSTICE EDDY VENTOSE’ [Times Caribbean: July 15, 2026].
***
WALK GOOD.
***
@ Islanman26
Like him or not, this could be about anyone other than GB, and I am sure that if it were anyone OTHER than GB, you would encourage them to do the exact same thing that he is doing.
A man or women is entitled to defend him or herself. I would image that you would do the same.
But Gaston do that to people daily where he goes on his radio station and curse people and defame them.
You a chat if he did go on is radio station has you say and defame anyone why they don’t sur him .they cant sue because he talk the truth
@Islandman
“Well you can sue me as well, but I guess you don’t have a clue who I am, because I think you are the biggest crook in government in the Caribbean, you and your partner in crime Skeritt.”
Being a coward by using a pseudonym to make your statement says that you are afraid of a lawsuit.
I pity you because everything he does as the leader of his country will continue to make you bitter.
I know that you’re originally from DA.
Just take a look at the state of this country. All jack assess defending this. Antigua is a slave country, i can’t understand people who defend these leaders. Bunch ignorant baboons.
White countries just tired of us underachieving loosers and ill keep saying it. Lets hurry up and finish this country so something new can take over, and I can finally enjoy freedom from nonsense.
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