Vere Bird III loses appeal in defamation case against PM
After losing his case in the High Court, Vere Bird III could not gain a favourable ruling at the Eastern Caribbean Court.
On Wednesday, his appeal was dismissed in the defamation case against Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
In April 2023, Justice Nicola Byer ruled that the Prime Minister’s statements that Vere Bird III benefitted from an illegitimate cabinet decision to sell him Crown lands at a rate reserved for parliamentarians, was true, justified, and fair comment. Bird sought to sue the Prime Minister on the grounds of defamation, alleging that he never actually received the lands, and that the cabinet decision was legitimate.
Bird not being satisfied with that outcome went to the Appellate Court, but it was a similar verdict once again.
On all 16 grounds that he appealed the judgement, all 16 were dismissed.
He will have to pay PM Browne a significant amount of money as costs were awarded to him. That number is being assessed.
READ FULL JUDGEMENT BELOW:
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Comments (11)
Diamond September 19, 2025, 11:14 AM
Antigua Surf September 19, 2025, 11:28 AM
Mindy September 19, 2025, 11:29 AM
Sheldon September 19, 2025, 11:36 AM
Juju Bee September 19, 2025, 12:07 PM
Justified September 19, 2025, 12:13 PM
Antiguan Eyes September 19, 2025, 2:52 PM
From the looks at it, it doesn’t seem that it was a good idea to push the issue based on principle. Mr. Bird should have just fly away and hold on to his money in the earlier stages of fight.
Now he will have pay a substantial amount for how he feels about someone and thier comments.
In these times, paying out uncalled for money really hurts. I’m sure.
BehindEyes September 19, 2025, 3:52 PM
Informed citizen September 19, 2025, 7:00 PM
Teacher for Life September 20, 2025, 1:43 PM
Maki September 21, 2025, 10:01 PM