Attorney and politician Vere Bird III alleges that he was defamed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne in 2019 and is now taking his case to a higher court.
In April 2023, Browne won the defamation lawsuit against him, which was based on social media statements made in 2019.
Bird claimed damages for defamation due to statements made by Browne regarding a Cabinet decision in 2003, where Bird’s father, who was Minister of Agriculture and Lands at the time, allegedly offered him an acre of land for $25,000.
Justice Nicola Byer, after a brief trial, ruled in favor of Browne, stating that he could rely on defenses of fair comment and truth, which provided complete defenses to the spoken words.
Bird disagrees with the ruling and has filed an appeal, listing 15 reasons why he believes the decision should be overturned.
Meanwhile, Browne maintains that Bird obtained government land at a concessional rate through illegitimate means and that his claims are absurd.