PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Sept 23, CMC – Lawyers for former finance minister, Colm Imbert, have given One Caribbean media (OCM) until September 29 to issue a public apology and provide a written undertaking not to repeat the allegations, after two media houses linked to the OCM published an article which they claimed defamed their client.
In addition, the lawyers are also requesting a financial settlement for damages and that failure to comply by next Monday would result in High Court proceedings seeking injunctive relief and substantial damages, according to the letter.
Imbert, had through his lawyers, has accused the Trinidad Express Newspapers and its affiliate CCN TV6 of publishing and amplifying false allegations that damaged his reputation. In the September 22 pre-action protocol letter to OCM, the lawyers complained of articles and third-party comments made on the media house’s social media platforms, which, according to the attorneys, allegedly suggested Imbert engaged in fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and misconduct in public office.
It said that the publications were circulated widely in print, on the Trinidad Express website, and across Facebook, reaching large audiences between the “Trinidad Express Newspapers” and “CCN TV6-Trinidad and Tobago” pages.
The controversy stems from a September 17 article in which a shareholder of CL Financial wrote to Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro calling for a criminal investigation into Imbert and former minister Brian Manning.
The letter alleged malfeasance and conspiracy in connection with the liquidation of CL Financial and the insurance company CLICO.
Imbert’s attorneys argue the coverage encouraged the public to view him as corrupt and unfit for office, despite no charges or evidence being presented, describing the publications as a “breach of confidence” and “misuse of private information,” warning that they may also prejudice any potential police investigation.
“Should an investigation be conducted by the police with respect to our client, your actions by sharing information which you ought to have known is private and confidential, on social media online and in print, can adversely and negatively affect the conduct of this investigation.
“Your public publishing of this information was irresponsible and reckless and can at best be described as irresponsible journalism and at worst malicious and premeditated.
“Furthermore, these publications were also a breach of confidence and a misuse of private information. You knew or ought to have known that publishing this article was a reckless dissemination of such information to the general public would have caused the viewing public to make assertion and further disparage our client’s character,” the pre-action letter noted.
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