Former President of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Loftus Durand, is charging two group members to court for defamation of character. Durand said he is taking legal action against the two CCM members for insinuating that he misappropriated the group’s fund while he served as president. He noted that his lawyers have served papers to the offenders and that they might soon appear in court.
According to him, although he was offended by the actions of the two unnamed persons, he saw no need for legal action until his lawyers found a basis for litigation. His attorneys interpreted the actions of the two persons as amounting to defamation of character. He also disclosed that his lawyers wrote to the concerned persons asking them to retract their malicious statements against him, but they refused to do so, necessitating the need for litigation in the court of law.
John Blanchard, treasurer for the CCM, said there is no evidence that Durand misappropriated the group’s funds in any definite way, but that the former president lacked proper accountability during his tenure. He noted that he would never join others to accuse Durand of embezzlement, but that the former president lacked bookkeeping practices when it comes to incomes and expenditures.
“We saw the monies were being spent; we saw the purchase of PA Systems; we saw the purchase of a speaker, a podium, payments for Q-95 for our radio programme…,” Blanchard said. “The monies were being spent. As to whether all of the monies were being spent, is a different question. I personally cannot say that money was missing or money was stolen.”
Following the CCM’s first meeting in this year on July 9, Blanchard retains his position as Treasurer until the AGM which is scheduled to hold before the end of the year. Earl Bruno was appointed as interim president, Janice Bruno as interim secretary, and Tyron Anthony as interim PRO.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
