Nice Radio to pay PM Gonsalves over US $160,000!!
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St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
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KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has recently sent a strong message to all media personnel after making a public example of popular radio icon and talk show hosts from Nice Radio.
According to Caribbean 360, on November 28, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court yesterday ordered them to pay a total of over EC$430 000 (US$164 122) for defaming the Prime Minister's character.
Judgement came after Gonsalves sued Elwardo Lynch and BDS Limited, the parent company of Nice Radio, some six years ago for making unsubstantiated claims with an aim to tarnish his image. The talk show host claimed that the Vincentian leader used government money “to pay for a family trip to the Vatican to see Pope John Paul II”.
"Don't run a campaign against me based on lies and falsehoods which damage my character [or] I will take action," Gonsalves said in a public statement made immediately after the judgement was given.
Lynch and the company are each expected to pay EC$160,000 in damages, EC$33,000 for Gonsalves' High Court costs and the attached Appeal Court cost, which amounts to EC$22,000.
PM Gonsalves said he insisted on giving a lesson to those who would try to destroy his character, but indicated that he has intentions of donating the money to charity. ~~Adz:Right~~
St. Vincent News