Privy Council dismisses Grenada libel appeal

Tuesday, February 3, 2004

LONDON, England: On January 29, 2004 the Privy Council in London dismissed the Appeal of George Worme and Grenada Today Ltd, challenging the constitutionality of Section 252 of the Criminal Code of Grenada, which establishes the offence of Intentional Criminal Libel.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council held that Section 252 of the Criminal Code did not offend Section 10 of the Grenada Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.

As a consequence of this ruling, the Preliminary Inquiry commenced in 1999, for libel, against George Worme and the Grenada Today Newspaper will continue.

If Mr. Worme is committed to stand trial in the High Court, he faces a possible two years imprisonment on conviction.

Mr. Worme and Grenada Today Ltd were charged with two counts of Intentional Criminal Libel following the publication of a letter on the 17th September 1999 and re-published on 24th September 1999 in the Grenada Today newspaper, under the caption "Doc stop playing politics".

They were charged with two counts of Intentional Libel contrary to Section 252 of the Criminal Code of Grenada, as the articles were deemed libellous of the Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell. 

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