—ruling that Jagdeo’s assertion that Goolsarran has no integrity is ‘substantially true’

The High Court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo over statements made in March 2023.

Justice Peter Hugh, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, found that while the statements were defamatory in nature, Jagdeo successfully established the defence of justification, or substantial truth.

The court found that evidence concerning Goolsarran’s tenure in senior positions within the Audit Office, the absence of audited public accounts during part of that period, and his continued employment supported the substance of Jagdeo’s statements. The court also found a sufficient factual basis for Jagdeo’s comments concerning Goolsarran’s political associations.

The court struck out the defences of fair comment and qualified privilege because they were not properly pleaded, but said the successful justification defence was sufficient to dispose of the case.

Goolsarran was ordered to pay Jagdeo $250,000 in costs.

The case arose from remarks made by Jagdeo at a March 23, 2023 press conference and a March 26, 2023 public meeting in Port Mourant. The lawsuit had previously been allowed to proceed to trial after the court rejected an application to strike it out.

See full ruling below: