The Tribune

By PACO NUNEZ

Tribune News Editor

MEDIA boss Wendell Jones has admitted in court he hired a columnist who went on to write defamatory articles about Lyford Cay billionaire Louis Bacon as part of a “smear campaign”, despite having heard the writer may be working for Mr Bacon’s adversary in a bitter dispute – fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

A statement read in the Supreme Court yesterday as part of a libel settlement said Mr Jones now believes he has “unwittingly been used by a person or persons who had an agenda”.

It also said he has barred the columnist, Earlin Williams, from writing in the Bahama Journal and “internally dealt” with other persons who assisted in the publication of the defamatory articles.

The statement said: “In 2012, the owner of the defendant, Mr Wendell Jones, was approached by journalist Mr Earlin Williams who asked if he could be an unpaid columnist for the defendant. This is a privilege which has been granted by the defendant to a number of Bahamians over the years. Mr Jones had heard that Mr Williams, along with another reporter, Mr Sherman Brown, had been working with Mr Peter Nygard.”

It said that in May, the Bahama Journal published a series of “extremely defamatory articles” about Mr Bacon written by Mr Williams, which alleged among other things, that the businessman was running a sophisticated international smuggling and drug trafficking ring with the co-operation and/or consent of the previous FNM government, that he attempted to drive Mr Nygard from his home, that he was involved in the death of Dan Tuckfield, and that he bribed government officials to cover-up illegal activities.

The statement, read by Mr Bacon’s attorney, Harvey Tynes, QC, affirmed that the defendant, Jones Communications Limited, joins with the plaintiff in affirming its content.

Under the terms of the settlement, Jones Communications is barred from further publishing the words

complained of in the action or any similar defamatory words about Mr Bacon, and must pay the plaintiff $100 in damages.

The statement noted that Mr Bacon has an international reputation as a hedge fund manager and is also known for his charitable work, “including his work to preserve and protect wildlife habitat and improve water systems.”

After the articles were published, on May 23, Mr Bacon’s UK attorneys wrote to Jones Communications seeking an immediate retraction and apology.

“Mr Jones replied to say that he had forwarded the plaintiff’s attorney’s letter to “a number of attorneys who are seeking to re-introduce a private prosecution against (the plaintiff) before the courts of the Bahamas. They have advised that they are in possession of certain documentary evidence to support some of the articles. In addition we are searching the articles to justify some of the claims you make.’

“The reference to the attorneys was a reference to Mr Nygard’s lawyers who did re-introduce a private prosecution against the plaintiff on June 7, 2012 only to then withdraw the claim entirely on June 25,” the statement said.

On June 21, Mr Bacon began defamation proceedings.

The statement said after the writ was issued, Mr Jones spoke to Mr Nygard to find out if he had any evidence to support the claims made in the articles.

“Mr Nygard told Mr Jones he wanted the defendant to find a way to defend the claims in order to force the plaintiff into court to give evidence.

“The defendant now accepts that the allegations in the articles are entirely false. It follows there is no factual basis for any element of them whatsoever.

“The defendant believes that it has unwittingly been used by a person or persons who had an agenda against the plaintiff. The defendant understands from the plaintiff that grossly defamatory and false claims have been published about the plaintiff in various different forms as well, including on anonymous attack websites.”

Jones Communications has agreed to publish an apology on the front page of the Bahama Journal and its website affirming that the claims made in the articles are entirely false and should not have been published.

“We express our regret, and apologise to Mr Louis Bacon and his family for any embarrassment or distress which may have been caused to them. We have taken steps to ensure this does not happen in the future.”

After the statement was read, attorney for Jones Communications, Anthony McKinney said he accepts everything his colleague said.

“The defendant accepts that the allegations concerning the plaintiff were false and the Bahama Journal was used as a conduit for a smear-campaign against the plaintiff. Through me, the defendant offers its apologies to the plaintiff and his family for any distress and embarrassment caused by the articles.”