Anil Persaud and Taignauth Jadunauth sued for $50M by President of the ECCB

Oct 31, 2014 Sports

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President of the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB), Bissoondial Singh, sought and obtained an Injunction from Justice Madame Diana Insanally on the 27th October, 2014 against Anil Persaud and Taignauth Jadunauth both of Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
According to the Statement of Claim the ECCB President is seeking damages in excess of $50,000,000. The Court documents also state that The Defendants are persons who are seeking to establish a parallel organization to administer and manage the sport of cricket on the East Coast of Demerara.
Another claim is that the East Coast Cricket Board is the only association which is recognized under the constitution of the Demerara Cricket Board for the management, administration and development of the sport of Cricket on the East Coast of Demerara.
In his capacity as the President of the East Coast Cricket Board, the Plaintiff’s ability to organize and successfully run off tournaments during the cricket season is largely as a result of the overwhelming response and support received from various sponsors within Guyana and abroad who contribute various forms of support to ensure the successful hosting of cricket competitions and tournaments within the Clubs on the East Coast of Demerara.
During the month of October 2014 the Plaintiff received several phone calls from various businessmen who informed him that the First-named Defendant, Anil Persaud, together with others were soliciting monies from them for the purpose of purportedly hosting cricket tournaments on the East Coast of Demerara.
In response to the inquiries the Plaintiff provided a list of the activities scheduled to be conducted by the East Coast Cricket Board as he is unaware of any other body authorized to engage in fund raising or solicit funds from businessmen for the purpose of hosting cricket tournaments under the aegis of the East Coast Cricket Board.
On the  6th day of October, 2014 subsequently, the Plaintiff observed a letter published in the Kaieteur News newspaper written by Anil Persaud, the First-named Defendant, which contained a number of false, malicious and defamatory statements of and concerning the Plaintiff, all of which were patent untruths and grave misrepresentations.
The Kaieteur News is a national daily newspaper with a very substantial and wide circulation throughout Guyana. The publication of the defamatory letter by the First-named Defendant was calculated and designed to intimidate and obstruct the Plaintiff in the performance of his duty as President of the East Coast Cricket Board, Bissoondial Singh said.
Subsequent to the said publication and unwarranted attack upon the Plaintiff, the Second-named Defendant, Taignauth Jadunauth, caused to be published, a letter purported to have been written by him in the Stabroek News newspaper dated the 7th October, 2014 supporting the First-named Defendant in his train of conduct, designed to malign, degrade and humiliate the Plaintiff in the performance of his office as President of the East Coast Cricket Board, in his capacity as a Businessman and in his personal life.
Bissoondial Singh is claiming against the Defendants for:
(a) Exemplary damages in excess of $50,000,000 (fifty million dollars) for Libel written, published and disseminated, falsely and maliciously, by the First-named Defendant of and concerning the Plaintiff on the 6th day of October, 2014 in the Kaieteur News newspapers, a daily newspaper of general circulation published in Guyana and North America and accessible online, in view of right thinking members of society and the public at large, whereby the Plaintiff was damnified, exposed to public ridicule and odium, discredited and lowered in the estimation of right thinking members of society, resulting in grave personal and professional loss and damage to the Plaintiff.
(b) Exemplary damages in excess of $50,000,000 (fifty million dollars) for Libel written, published and disseminated, falsely and maliciously, by the Second-named Defendant of and concerning the Plaintiff on the 7th day of October, 2014 in the Stabroek News newspapers, a daily newspaper of general circulation published in Guyana and accessible online, in view of right thinking members of society and the public at large, whereby the Plaintiff was damnified, exposed to public ridicule and odium, discredited and lowered in the estimation of right thinking members of society, resulting in grave personal and professional loss and damage to the Plaintiff.
Justice Insanally also granted an injunction restraining Persaud and Jadunauth from further writing, printing or publishing or circulating or causing to be written, printed, published or circulated of the Plaintiff the said defamatory words contained in the Kaieteur News Newspaper edition or issue published on the 6th day of October, 2014 and Stabroek News newspaper on the 7th day of October, 2014

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