BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - POPULAR radio station Freedom FM was made to apologise to former Government Minister Dwyer Astaphan following comments made by former Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas on that radio station, which labelled him a racist.
Speaking to this publication, Astaphan briefly gave some background information into the matter.
“The matter was that Dr. Denzil Douglas made certain remarks on radio with regard to me. I took legal action against him and the radio station.”
He indicated that both parties involved in the issue then participated in a court sanctioned mediation which resulted in resolution between himself and Freedom FM.
“The two matters went to mediation last week. That is a court appointed mediation under the auspices of the court. The mediator was Mrs. Angela Inniss-Hodge.
“Both Clement ‘Junie’ Liburd and Dr. Douglas were represented by Sylvester Anthony and Associates. I was resented by the firm Daniel-Brantley and Associates. In the mediation last week, it was successful with Mr. Liburd but not with Dr. Douglas.
“The matter between Mr. Liburd and myself is finished and resolved. The matter between Dr. Douglas and myself remains to be resolved and will proceed to case management next week and probably onto trial.”
Astaphan was asked to comment on the alleged defamatory statements by Dr. Douglas.
“I would leave that to the legal processes."
Late last week, a public apology appeared on Freedom FM’s website retracting the comments.
"Freedom FM Radio hereby publicly retracts and apologizes for comments made by Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and broadcast on Freedom FM to the effect that Mr. G. A. Dwyer Astaphan is a racist.
“We regret any damage done to Mr. Astaphan's good name and reputation professionally and personally and we undertake to never broadcast such comments in the future."
Freedom FM in recent times has also been the target of other lawsuits, including one by Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris.
