High Court Master Ermin Moise has awarded a total of EC$127,875 in damages against Q95 FM and talkshow host Matthias “Matt” Peltier Jr for defamation of character involving Labour Commissioner Dr. Mathew LeBlanc. The court ordered the two legal entities to pay LeBlanc EC$120,000 for aggravated damages, and EC$7,875 for interest on the damages inflicted on the petitioner.
Peltier Jr. had in a series of talkshow in 2015 alleged that LeBlanc whose office issued travel visas and legal permits to immigrants coming to work in Dominica accepted bribes from foreigners to fast-track the processing of their visas and permits. Peltier also on Q95 FM discussed the content of a leaked but unsigned report regarding the alleged corruption.
Heather Felix-Evans, LeBlanc’s lawyer wrote to Peltier asking that the “offensive comments” made against the person of the claimant on February 2, 2015 be retracted and an apology offered. The accused “refused to offer an apology to the claimant upon request” and also failed to enter a defence when the matter was brought up in court.
Felix-Evans submitted that her client is a gospel minister who is often invited to minister in churches all over Dominica. She averred that LeBlanc suffered considerable embarrassment from his church members, and many churches where he was called to minister questioned his integrity regarding the bribery and corruption charges made against him on Q95 FM.
“He was embarrassed and seriously affected by the slander of his reputation,” Felix-Evans said.
Master Moise of the high court entered judgement in default against both Peltier and Q95 FM when they failed to enter a defence for themselves.
“There can be no doubt that the allegations levied against the claimant are grave,” Moise said. “He is the Labour Commissioner of Dominica. His duties involved the issuance of visas and permits for the purpose of foreigners coming into Dominica to work. By alleging that he was willing to accept payments for the fast-tracking of visa requests and permits would seriously undermine the integrity of the office which he holds and brings his character and professional reputation into disrepute.”
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