A release from Sleepin Hotel today said that Justice Sandil Kissoon has awarded damages for libel by the Guyana Chronicle against Clifton Bacchus of Sleepin Hotel, Pasha Global Inc and Yokohama Trading Guyana Inc.
The awards stem from reports that the Chronicle had carried in August 2017. These reports triggered libel suits.
The release from Sleepin said that in relation to Clifton Bacchus v the Guyana National Newspapers and the Editor of the Guyana Chronicle H.C.A 2017-HC-DEM-CIV-SOC-252, Justice Kissoon awarded to the Claimant the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) as general damages and the sum of two million, five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) as exemplary damages.
In the matters of Pasha Global Inc. v the Guyana National Newspapers and the Editor of the Guyana Chronicle and Yokohama Trading Guyana Inc. v the Guyana National Newspapers and the Editor of the Guyana Chronicle, Justice Kissoon awarded the sum of twelve million, five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000) to each of the companies, the release said.
The Court also granted permanent injunctions restraining the Defendants by themselves, their servants and/or agents and each and every one of them from publishing any statement pertaining to the libel.
The Guyana Chronicle and its editor were also ordered to remove the published articles from its website within 48 hours, the release added.
The release said that the claimants were represented by Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Manoj Narayan, Rajendra R. Jaigobin and Anuradha Deodasingh.
Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), publishers of the Guyana Chronicle, today reported that the company faces serious financial and professional challenges.
It said that “Over $6B is being claimed in lawsuits that were filed against the company for matters relating to publications under the APNU+AFC Government. These lawsuits all relate to irresponsible reporting, reckless and careless directions from the former Board members, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief. In addition to the large sums that are being sought, the company is also faced with the additional burden of the cost associated with having secured legal representation in these matters. To compound matters, as of August 2, 2020, the GNNL was in a financial deficit with no operating cash flow to meet immediate needs.
“From August to the time of this release, the new management team and Board of Directors have started to put cost-recovery measures in place that will hopefully soon realise self-sufficiency. The Editorial team is also being evaluated and changed to restore professionalism in the GNNL and pride in its service to the people of Guyana”.
