GUYANA - President Jagdeo sues newspaper

Guyana(CMC):

President Bharrat Jagdeo has sued the Kaieteur News newspaper for libel and is seeking more than GUY$10 million (US$48,550) in damages.

Jagdeo has also named the newspaper's editor, Adam Harris, and columnist Freddie Kissoon as defendants in the libel suit that followed the publication of an article on June 28.

President Jagdeo claimed that the newspaper article on June 28 contained libel that "has caused me and the entire Government of Guyana great public embarrassment, held us up to odium and ridicule, both nationally and internationally."

Injunction

The state-owned Chronicle newspaper said that the President has "also sought and obtained an injunction restraining the defendants, their servants and or agents from further publishing the said or any similar libel".

It said that Jagdeo is also "seeking aggravated or exemplary damages, costs, and such further or other costs as the court deems just and proper."

The matter will be heard before Chief Justice Chang on August 5.