Lawyers Demand Full Payment From Dominica Opposition Leader

ROSEAU, Dominica, Mar 7, (CMC) – Lawyers representing chartered accountant, Keiron Pinard-Byrne, who won a £20, 000 (One British Pound =US$1.42 cents) against Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, has written to the politician demanding full payment of the award.

In addition, the lawyers have said, they would want the outstanding payment paid through a “banker’s draft or certified cheque”, following the debacle that occurred at their office when the first set of monies were paid to meet the award.

In 2015, the London-based Privy Council ordered Linton to pay the accountant £20,000 by 22 February, this year, after he lost a defamation suit.

Linton, the leader of the main opposition, United Workers Party (UWP), had been able to make a payment of more than £19, 000 before the deadline.

But in their letter, dated February 29, the law firm of de Freitas, de Freitas and Johnson wrote, that the “total sum of £19, 000.00 and EC$2, 708.00 (£ 692.39) was received on account of the Order.

“Payment of EC$2708.00 was made in bags of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,” according to the letter, a copy of which was released to the media on Monday.

The lawyers said, they are therefore demanding immediate payment of “the sum of £307.61” (EC$1,184.88) which remains outstanding, as the time limited by the order of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for the payment of the sum has expired”.

The lawyers said, that the “unorthodox and contemptuous manner” in which the payment was made, “resulted in hostile and disruptive behaviour, on the part of those who presented themselves to make payment, which was not conducive to, nor consistent with, the professional standing of our Chambers.

“We refer, in particular, to the loud and aggressive conduct of your brother, Brian Linton, who threatened, assaulted and insulted our staff, using some of the most vile and unsavory language. His despicable behaviour was completely unwarranted, in circumstances where he, and the other persons entering our Chambers, were received and accommodated with civility,” the letter stated.

It added, that, as a result of the “unorthodox and contemptuous manner” in which payment was made two weeks ago, the law firm is requesting that the payment be made via banker’s draft or certified cheque.

“Having regard to the aforesaid conduct, we must insist that you make payment by means of a banker’s draft or certified cheque and to desist from further contemptuous form of payment. If you fail to comply, an appropriate Order will be sought from the Court,” the letter stated.