Member of Parliament (MP) for Western Hanover Ian Hayles
has finally broken his silence on reports carried in sections of the media that
he is embroiled in a land dispute at Little Bay in Hanover.
The MP, through his lawyer Abe Dabdoub, filed a libel suit in the Supreme Court Friday morning.
The libel claim names eight defendants including the Nationwide News Network (NNN), its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cliff Hughes as well as Elon Parkinson and Dennis Brooks who are reporters employed by that station.
The suit also names Radio Jamaica Limited which leases its AM frequency to Nationwide News.
Three residents of Little Bay in Westmoreland who reportedly gave interviews to NNN about Mr. Hayles' involvement in the dispute are also named in the suit.
Malice and prejudice in ‘squatting' claim - Dabdoub
The West Hanover MP is claiming compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages in respect to the publication on radio and the Internet of the libelous statement on January 29.
The suit is also seeking an injunction restraining the defendants, their servants and agents from further publishing the libelous statement.
It is also seeking interest and costs.
The claim alleges malice and prejudice in the publication of the story.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, Mr. Dabdoub denied the claims.
"In relation to these allegations by NNN of ‘squatting' there is undoubtedly squatting on the lands at Little Bay, that has been going on for years and there are court cases (but) none of these cases were brought by Mr. Hayles or by anyone acting on his behalf.
He is not in occupation of land there, he has never been in occupation of any land there and he does not intend to be in occupation of any land there until he has legal title to it," said Mr. Dabdoub.
Truth will set us free - Hayles
The attorney also stated that his client is seeking to purchase about 450 acres of land in the area from the registered title owner who is overseas, but this process has been stymied by other legal claims currently before the courts.
For his part, Mr. Hayles maintains that the truth will out.
"I've been stretched at length this week in explaining to everyone that I haven't done anything wrong, I haven't been charged by any court or law enforcement but I'll say this much to my constituency and the people of Jamaica one, thanks for their support and two, I'm not a squatter and at the end of the day, the truth will set us all free," said Mr. Hayles.
His legal team which is seeking a public apology as well as monetary compensation, says today's suit is only one of several legal actions that will be filed in relation to the matter.
Recovering $1mil loan
Meanwhile, Mr. Hayles' lawyers have indicated their intention to file an action in court to recover monies reportedly owed to their client by Mr. Hughes, Nationwide's CEO.
The legal claim filed Friday makes reference to a loan given to Mr. Hughes by ARC Systems Limited, which is owned by Norman Horne.
According to Mr. Dabdoub, Mr. Hayles served as guarantor of the $1 million loan on which Mr. Hughes later defaulted.
The legal document contains receipts showing that Mr. Hayles repaid the money in liquidation of the loan amount owed by Mr. Hughes.
Mr. Dabdoub stated that Mr. Hayles has on several occasions attempted to recover the money from Mr. Hughes without success.
When RJR News contacted Mr. Hughes on Friday afternoon, he stated that he has no personal relationship with Mr. Hayles or knowledge that he was the guarantor of the loan he took from ARC Systems in 2004.
"I'm hearing for the first time this afternoon, that Mr. Hayles was part of this transaction and that he guaranteed the loan and settled in by paying cash in September 08," he said.
The MP, through his lawyer Abe Dabdoub, filed a libel suit in the Supreme Court Friday morning.
The libel claim names eight defendants including the Nationwide News Network (NNN), its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cliff Hughes as well as Elon Parkinson and Dennis Brooks who are reporters employed by that station.
The suit also names Radio Jamaica Limited which leases its AM frequency to Nationwide News.
Three residents of Little Bay in Westmoreland who reportedly gave interviews to NNN about Mr. Hayles' involvement in the dispute are also named in the suit.
Malice and prejudice in ‘squatting' claim - Dabdoub
The West Hanover MP is claiming compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages in respect to the publication on radio and the Internet of the libelous statement on January 29.
The suit is also seeking an injunction restraining the defendants, their servants and agents from further publishing the libelous statement.
It is also seeking interest and costs.
The claim alleges malice and prejudice in the publication of the story.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, Mr. Dabdoub denied the claims.
"In relation to these allegations by NNN of ‘squatting' there is undoubtedly squatting on the lands at Little Bay, that has been going on for years and there are court cases (but) none of these cases were brought by Mr. Hayles or by anyone acting on his behalf.
He is not in occupation of land there, he has never been in occupation of any land there and he does not intend to be in occupation of any land there until he has legal title to it," said Mr. Dabdoub.
Truth will set us free - Hayles
The attorney also stated that his client is seeking to purchase about 450 acres of land in the area from the registered title owner who is overseas, but this process has been stymied by other legal claims currently before the courts.
For his part, Mr. Hayles maintains that the truth will out.
"I've been stretched at length this week in explaining to everyone that I haven't done anything wrong, I haven't been charged by any court or law enforcement but I'll say this much to my constituency and the people of Jamaica one, thanks for their support and two, I'm not a squatter and at the end of the day, the truth will set us all free," said Mr. Hayles.
His legal team which is seeking a public apology as well as monetary compensation, says today's suit is only one of several legal actions that will be filed in relation to the matter.
Recovering $1mil loan
Meanwhile, Mr. Hayles' lawyers have indicated their intention to file an action in court to recover monies reportedly owed to their client by Mr. Hughes, Nationwide's CEO.
The legal claim filed Friday makes reference to a loan given to Mr. Hughes by ARC Systems Limited, which is owned by Norman Horne.
According to Mr. Dabdoub, Mr. Hayles served as guarantor of the $1 million loan on which Mr. Hughes later defaulted.
The legal document contains receipts showing that Mr. Hayles repaid the money in liquidation of the loan amount owed by Mr. Hughes.
Mr. Dabdoub stated that Mr. Hayles has on several occasions attempted to recover the money from Mr. Hughes without success.
When RJR News contacted Mr. Hughes on Friday afternoon, he stated that he has no personal relationship with Mr. Hayles or knowledge that he was the guarantor of the loan he took from ARC Systems in 2004.
"I'm hearing for the first time this afternoon, that Mr. Hayles was part of this transaction and that he guaranteed the loan and settled in by paying cash in September 08," he said.
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