Tracy Davidson-Celestine is set to refile her defamation lawsuit against Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine.
The matter was automatically struck out on Thursday, during a hearing before High Court Judge Carol Gobin.
Davidson-Celestine, the former head of the PNM Tobago Council, was ordered to pay Augustine’s legal costs for defending the lawsuit, which did not reach the trial stage. Her ability to continue to pursue the case was raised by Augustine’s legal team during a case management hearing in early October.
In a statement, Davidson-Celestine claimed the outcome was not based on the “tact or skill” of Augustine’s legal team or an analysis of the merits of her case but rather because she was forced to change her legal team shortly after it was filed.
She said the change was necessary as her former attorney John Jeremie, SC, was retained by the THA to pursue the case against the company and its directors.
“What I still await is the evidence, almost two years later, after Farley publicly besmirched my name with declarations of having evidence of corruption in the zip line project involving me.”
“If Farley was telling the truth, I expect he would have taken the opportunity to present it in the court of law. It would be a perfect platform for his voice,” she added.
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