Jermaine Figueira wins libel writ and will give me some money

May 09, 2022 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

A man, who had an obsession with me in the Guyana Chronicle and on his Facebook page from 2019 until his party, the PNC, failed in its five months election shenanigans in 2020, has won a libel writ against the Chronicle.
Google Jermaine Figueira’s descriptions of me for 2019 and I could have collected maybe dozens of millions from him based on the nasty things he wrote about me. But I don’t sue people. A man named Charles Ceres filed a libel writ against the Guyana Times but I didn’t sue him for defamation when he wrote that I do not have post graduate qualifications.
Mr. Winston Jordan threatened to sue me but the very Jordan wrote these words in the Stabroek News of November 25, 2021: “Finance Ministry removed critical control measure and this has opened door to procurement confusion and corruption.” The Finance Minister threatened libel and Jordan withdrew the remarks.
I cannot begin to think of the hundreds of millions I would have had in my bank account if I had sued the Chronicle and Guyana Times. In one calendar year between the Chronicle and Guyana Times, there were over 200 letters scandalising my name.
When I saw Figueira’s victory my heart fell. I could have collected a good sum of money by suing Figueira. But here is what I am now appealing to Figueira to do. I don’t want an apology. I want some of the money he will collect from the Chronicle. I think he has that obligation to me.
I believe Figueira is going to give me some, the amount I am not sure of. I am in two minds as to what do with it. Shall I use it for my personal benefit? The cost of living is skyrocketing. For example, I usually buy a 5kg bag of soap powder imported from China for $1400. It is now $2200. I usually buy the 1.25 gallon Wesson canola cooking oil for $2400. It is now $4600.
So what should I do with Figueira’s money? I like animals insanely. I could donate it to animal rights organisations or charity organisations. Depending on how much the PNC parliamentarian from Linden gives me, I will decide. But given the way I feel, I am strongly inclined to favour animal rights organisations. I would suggest you read Figueira description of me from 2019 to July 2020 and tell me how much of his collection from the Chronicle he should offer me.
People are always threatening to sue me and those very people, in fact, end up libeling me. And they get away with it because of how I see life. In a letter to this newspaper, a man by the name of Charles Ceres threatened libel, accusing me of scandalising his grandparents.
He said I did not know his grandparents so I made a false statement against them. But in that very letter, he said defamatory things against me. I don’t know if he is sorry and would like to offer compensation. I will accept it and the animal rights organisation will be in my focus.
Perhaps the greatest irony in the history of libel stories in Guyana occurred in this newspaper many, many moons ago. A lawyer accused me of defamation. I am grateful for the intervention of Khemraj Ramjattan who persuaded him not to proceed. It is so unfortunate that Khemraj and I parted ways over his use of power. He provided consistent legal service to me without pay.
Can I ever repay Khemraj? I would say I have repaid him in ways he should be grateful to me more than I to him. My activism contributed to his party successful election campaign in 2015. Anyway, back to the threat to sue.
The lawyer wanted a retraction and the then editor-in-chief, Nills Campbell, agreed for the lawyer to write the apology himself. How ironic is life in Guyana. You should see that statement. It certainly derogates my character. I was so disappointed that Nills carried that type of apology that I never saw him the same way again and I was never friendly with him afterwards. I would say that I disliked him from that moment. An editor cannot carry such an apology.
In threats to sue, a newspaper must always be grateful that the opportunity is given to say sorry. The apology is standard around the world. It announces that there was no intention to hurt the image of the person, offers regrets, and says that a similar mistake would not occur again. But the publication of the regret does not carry a terrible attack on the character of the columnist or reporter. I remember complaining bitterly to Mr. Lall who in turn was very upset with Mr. Campbell. The story of my life, eh!
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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Jermaine Figueira wins libel writ and will give me some money

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