In a noteworthy decision, Catherine “Cathy” Hughes, a member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), faced a significant legal defeat that has cost her millions. The Demerara High Court has thrown out her defamation case against Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Justice Priscilla Chandra-Hanif ruled that Jagdeo’s comment labeling Hughes as “a low-life” during a November 2023 party press conference did not meet the legal standards for defamation in Guyana. The court ordered Hughes to cover costs exceeding $4 million.
Jagdeo’s attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, lauded the ruling, emphasizing the Vice President’s lawful conduct. He noted that the press conference included an audio clip where Hughes falsely accused Jagdeo of proposing a maritime channel to Venezuela amidst ongoing border disputes—a claim she later retracted in court.
Datadin explained that Jagdeo’s remarks were a justified response to Hughes’ misrepresentation, particularly concerning her past awarding of governmental contracts to her own media company while in office. The court recognized such actions as potentially compromising public integrity.
Ultimately, Justice Chandra-Hanif dismissed Hughes’ claims, highlighting that public officials must endure scrutiny regarding their professional actions. Hughes initially sought over $50 million in damages for alleged reputational harm but ultimately conceded that her assertions were substantially inaccurate.
“Vice-President Jagdeo has been completely exonerated, evidencing no wrongdoing on his part,” Datadin remarked.
Source: guyanachronicle.com
