Dean Barrow’s Claim Follows Hugo Patt’s Successful Lawsuit
Former Prime Minister Barrow ,is himself, a claimant in a similar suit brought against the Government of Belize. He is represented by attorney Naima Barrow and is also suing G.O.B., following the publication of the Commission of Inquiry’s report. His claim, however, is not necessarily one for defamation. Barrow explains.
Dean Barrow, Claimant
“That’s the difference between the case in which I am claimant and the case in which I was counsel. My discussion with my client, Honorable Patt, persuaded me that he was not interested in quashing the entire [report]. Once his name was removed, once the findings against him were quashed, he didn’t mind that the rest of the award would stand. Now there were some other names that were called, if they didn’t want to take action that’s their business. But in particular, we came to the view that the recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry can serve some purpose if government would follow them, they haven’t followed them yet and so on that basis we said no. Once Patt’s name came out we are not going to ask that the entire [report] be quashed. My counsel in the case in which I am claimant, my niece, Naima Barrow, said that’s not her position. She believes that what was done was so bad that the entire [report] ought to be quashed. That’s the difference and that’s why I think the judge is taking a little longer to give her decision in the case in which I am claimant, as opposed to the one in which I was counsel.”