Human Rights Head Stands By Decision To Sue Media In St. Vincent

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – President of the Human Rights Association (HRA), Nicole Sylvester, is defending the decision to sue three media houses, saying the legal action should not be regarded as an anti human rights stance.

“It is absolutely not. It is very critical because of what was at the stake and crux of the issue, that I disclosed — that is what the allegation made — the whereabouts of a witness who was in a witness protection program,” Sylvester told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

Attorney Kay Bacchus-Browne has filed the lawsuits on behalf of Sylvester against Star FM, a radio station owned by the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP), as well as the Searchlight and The Vincentian newspapers.

The lawsuit comes after the media houses accused Sylvester, an attorney, of disclosing the whereabouts of a female in a witness protection program during a murder trial some years ago.

Sylvester said she decided to sue because the media houses refused and or failed to apologize as requested.

Hans King, press secretary to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, trade unionist and political activist, Joseph “Burns” Bonadie, and WE FM, a privately owned radio station, apologized for broadcasting the allegation and settled with Sylvester, paying her an undisclosed sum of money.

“I never knew the location of the witness in the first place, I pursued cross examination of witnesses and I said, and I will say again, because the statement that was served on me said the location of the witness, but what I asked in cross examination, when you gave this statement if you did not give this statement as stated in your witness statement,” Sylvester said.

“Nowhere did I speak about the address of the witness. It was said that I disclosed their whereabouts. And on that basis, I had to draw the line, because I respect the rights of a witness in a witness protection program, and I will certainly not tolerate that message being sent out,” she told CMC.

“Certainly, Hans King apologized, “Burns” Bonadie apologized, WE FM did as well, and as a result of that, a certain settlement was arrived at. The issue is live with Searchlight, Vincentian and Star FM and I will not comment on those issues, because that matter is sub judice,” she further said.

Sylvester said all the parties involved were given an opportunity to apologize and avoid a lawsuit.

“I didn’t want anyone to save me. What I did not want as President of the Human Rights is to allow the Human Rights Association to be tarnished by saying that this is what the president did. And I certainly will go down defending the rights of human rights,” Sylvester told CMC.