Dominica opposition leader ‘served with bankruptcy documents’

Last updated: 18 December 2017, 4:28 pm

The leader of the opposition in Dominica looks to be heading closer to bankruptcy as a long-running defamation lawsuit continues.

Lennox Linton, leader of the United Workers Party, was ordered to pay £26,000 (US$35,290) to Kieron Pinard-Byrne. This sum was set by the Privy Council in April 2017.

The case back over a decade, when Pinard-Byrne sued Linton in 2002 over an article he published on a website and statements made about the Layou River Economic Citizenship Program and the Layou River Hotel project.

Since the news broke a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise $15,000 for the MP.

According to the petition from Pinard-Byrne’s lawyers, Linton has so far paid £1,200 of the total owed – and the remaining amount is subject to 5% interest per year.

They are not seeking to have Linton declared bankrupt, and WIC News understands that the Marigot member of parliament was served at the end of last week.

“The respondent [Linton] is bankrupt and unable to pay his debt,” the documents state, and seek a “receiving order”.

In August, WIC News reported that Pinard-Byrne demanded payment within seven days or would move to have Linton declared bankrupt.

Anthony Astaphan, one Dominica’s senior legal minds, told state-owned radio that bankruptcy could jeopardise the UWP leader’s position in parliament.

“Mr Linton is now looking down the barrel of a double-barrel shotgun,” he said.

WIC News has emailed Lennox Linton for comment but has not had a response.