December 21, 2009
Hon. Hazelyn Francis
President of the Senate
Parliament Building
Queen Elizabeth Highway
St. John’s, Antigua
Re: Objections to Foul and Untruthful Claims By Senator Charles
Madame President:
On Thursday, December 17, 2009, during the televised session of the Upper House, Senator Elmore Charles published several foul, untruthful and libelous claims concerning me which were broadcast for all to hear. The broadcast statements would subject Senator Charles to liability for slander did he not enjoy immunity against lawsuits for statements made in parliamentary debates. The object of the immunity is not to grant a license to abuse fellow parliamentarians; in fact, all parliamentarians are forbidden to impute bad motives to colleagues.
Although, Madame President, you attempted to restrain him somewhat, the Senator continued to publish untruthful and injurious statements for all the world to hear. The lies were especially nefarious since he claimed that unlawful and incendiary acts of criminal violence were encouraged by the leadership of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, during the time when he served the ALP.
That lie was especially harmful since Mr. Arvil Grant, an operative of the governing party, has implied the same in one of his newspaper articles. The ALP objected to Grant’s false claim, in public and in parliament, and strongly objects to having a version of that lie repeated by Senator Charles.
I object strongly to the statements made by Senator Charles and demand a written apology from him, Madame President, through you, in a reasonable time.
I thank you for your attention and anticipate receiving a written apology from the Senator by year’s end.
I remain,
Hon. Lester B. Bird
Leader of the Opposition
