The Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Collen Lowe, has threatened to sue the Jamaica Gleaner unless corrective action is taken over an article published in the Sunday edition of the paper.
In a letter dispatched on Thursday, the Clerk accuses the Gleaner of defaming her by conveying false and damaging allegations about her conduct in relation to procurement and financial administration at the Parliament.
Lowe claims the Gleaner falsely suggests she knowingly instructed public officers to breach procurement and financial governance laws and abused her authority by coercing staff to act illegally.
According to the Clerk, those allegations are “false in fact,” unsupported by documents, and incapable of justification.
She argues the publication has caused serious harm her reputation and professional standing as a constitutional office holder in the country.
The letter also accuses the Gleaner of failing to fairly report her response to questions about a Special Audit Report.
She alleges the newspaper omitted explanations that audit matters are being addressed through internal statutory and governance processes, and that public comment is legally constrained.
The Clerk is demanding multiple corrections and clarifications be published.
She’s given the Gleaner 72 hours to respond.
The letter warns that failure to do so could result in legal action without further notice.
The Gleaner has not publicly responded to the letter.
