Opposition Leader Demands Retraction and Compensation from Channel 7 News Over Defamatory Ads

Leader of the Opposition, Moses Shyne Barrow, has had his attorneys send a letter to Channel 7 News, demanding compensation for damages and character defamation, as well as a retraction and apology for ads they have been airing.  A 3-page letter from Lindo LLP cited two ads that reference P Diddy and his recent comments on Belize being a narcos state.  According to Attorney William Lindo, his remarks on narcos state were taken out of context and combined with recent Facebook posts made regarding deposits into a New York bank account.  The ads essentially, allude to the opposition leader’s possible involvement in money laundering and other untoward activities.  The letter states, in part, quote, “Our Client refutes all of these allegations/innuendos contained in the advertisements, which are completely false and constitute a grave defamation of our Client. Moreover, these statements, being prominently aired by you, perhaps from a desire for sensationalism, are intended to cause our Client embarrassment, and demean and degrade our Client in the eyes of the public as these advertisements have been watched on your news station, and shared and viewed by thousands of individuals on your Facebook page and other social media platforms controlled by your organisation.”  End of quote.  Among the four demands being made to Seven News, Barrow is also seeking, “an appropriate sum in damages to compensate for the serious injury to his reputation which he has suffered and the embarrassment caused by the airing of the advertisements. The letter did not give a deadline for Seven News to counter or comply.