Chicokid
July 24, 2004, 08:23 PM
Should Criminal Libel be removed once and for all from our law books :icon_ques
This question arises from the current situation in Grenada. By now everybody in the Caribbean knows about this but for informing sake..i'll remind you guys :)
April 28th, 2004: The editor of Miami Based offshore alert reports that Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell accepted US$500,000 in $100 bills in a Louis Vuitton briefcase from German guy Eric Resteiner for a diplomatic position at his home in Switzerland. Resteiner has been criminal indicted in the US.
The PM confirmed in an address to the nation in May that he accepted "approximately US$15,000" from Resteiner to cover costs for trips made to Europe and Kuwait in 2000. A release from the Government Information Service (GIS) warned all media houses not to reproduce any of Offshorealert's article on the PM or feel the full force of the law. Since that time until now there have been interesting developments.
1. Government said it would file suits against offshorealert for producing such an article. (In June, offshore alert reported that it didn't receive any suits) :icon_ques
2. Suits were reported filed against the Grenada Brocasting Network (GBN) for broadcasting a report on BBC Caribbean (radio news show) which reported quotes from PM's story that first appeared on Offshorealert. GBN has since suspended BBC Caribbean Report. I don't know whether any suits were filed against the BBC Caribbean report.
3. Two suits were also filed against Cable and Wireless (C&W). Persons using a former C&W web forum called SPICEISLE TALKSHOP began quotes parts of the offshorealert's article about the PM. C&W has since closed Spiceisle Talkshop.
4. A journalist called Leroy Noel is reported to have received suits since he wrote an article in a newspaper stated "NNP DAYS ARE NUMBERED". (NNP is the current political party in power). Leroy Noel also himself stated that the PM pointed a finger at him say "YOUR TIME IS COMMING"
All four groups listed above (offshorealert, GBN, C&W and Leroy Noel) can be charged for criminal libel and may get jail terms or forced to cough up compensations.
Now in a democratic society like most Caribbean islands...wouldn't you say that Criminal Libel is "starving" this purpose. Democratic equals to freedom of speech or just Freedom entirely. I say out with Criminal Libel...it served its days but is unacceptable in the 21st century.
This question arises from the current situation in Grenada. By now everybody in the Caribbean knows about this but for informing sake..i'll remind you guys :)
April 28th, 2004: The editor of Miami Based offshore alert reports that Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell accepted US$500,000 in $100 bills in a Louis Vuitton briefcase from German guy Eric Resteiner for a diplomatic position at his home in Switzerland. Resteiner has been criminal indicted in the US.
The PM confirmed in an address to the nation in May that he accepted "approximately US$15,000" from Resteiner to cover costs for trips made to Europe and Kuwait in 2000. A release from the Government Information Service (GIS) warned all media houses not to reproduce any of Offshorealert's article on the PM or feel the full force of the law. Since that time until now there have been interesting developments.
1. Government said it would file suits against offshorealert for producing such an article. (In June, offshore alert reported that it didn't receive any suits) :icon_ques
2. Suits were reported filed against the Grenada Brocasting Network (GBN) for broadcasting a report on BBC Caribbean (radio news show) which reported quotes from PM's story that first appeared on Offshorealert. GBN has since suspended BBC Caribbean Report. I don't know whether any suits were filed against the BBC Caribbean report.
3. Two suits were also filed against Cable and Wireless (C&W). Persons using a former C&W web forum called SPICEISLE TALKSHOP began quotes parts of the offshorealert's article about the PM. C&W has since closed Spiceisle Talkshop.
4. A journalist called Leroy Noel is reported to have received suits since he wrote an article in a newspaper stated "NNP DAYS ARE NUMBERED". (NNP is the current political party in power). Leroy Noel also himself stated that the PM pointed a finger at him say "YOUR TIME IS COMMING"
All four groups listed above (offshorealert, GBN, C&W and Leroy Noel) can be charged for criminal libel and may get jail terms or forced to cough up compensations.
Now in a democratic society like most Caribbean islands...wouldn't you say that Criminal Libel is "starving" this purpose. Democratic equals to freedom of speech or just Freedom entirely. I say out with Criminal Libel...it served its days but is unacceptable in the 21st century.