Pinard –Byrne to Lennox Linton: Pay me now
Chartered Accountant Kieron Pinard-Byrne wants his money now; he wants it not in coins, not in such "unorthodox and contemptuous manner" as Opposition Leader Lenox Linton delivered the last time. Pinard-Byrne says he wants a cheque of a bank draft.
In summary that is the content of the latest letter, dated 29th February, 2016 from Pinard-Byrne to Linton arising out of the Privy Council Appeal of a defamation case that Linton lost in 2015.
The case revolved around the two-decade-old failed hotel construction financed by the multi-million dollar Citizenship by Investment project at Layou that Grace Tung managed. A few years ago Linton charged that Pinard-Byrne, the company's representative was an inappropriate beneficiary of that project.
Pinard-Byrne sued and won at the High Court in Roseau and at the Privy Council in Britain. Linton won an appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
Pinard-Byrne's lawyers, deFreitas, deFreitas & Johnson wrote that between February 22 and February 23, 2016, Linton's supporters visited the law firm to pay the Privy Council fee of £20,000.
According to the letter the law firm received £19,000 and it received EC$2708.00 (£692.39) in bags of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
"The unorthodox and contemptuous manner in which the payment of the aforementioned sum was made resulted in hostile and disruptive behavior on the part of those who presented themselves to make payment, which was not conducive to, nor consistent with, the professional standing of our Chambers," deFreitas, deFreitas & Johnson wrote to Linton.
"We refer, in particular, to the loud and aggressive conduct of your brother, Brian Linton, who threatened, assaulted and insulted our staff, using some of the most vile and unsavory language. His despicable behavior was completely unwarranted, in circumstance where he and the -other persons entering our Chambers were received and accommodated with civility".
Additionally, Pinard-Byre through his lawyers said the time limit for the payment of the amount has expired but the sum of £307.61 is outstanding.
"We therefore demand that you immediately make payment of the outstanding sum of £307.61 to our Chambers'" the letter said.
"Having regard to the aforesaid conduct, we must insist that you make payment by means of a banker's draft or certified cheque and that you desist from further contemptuous form of payment".
"If you fail to comply," the lawyers warned "an appropriate Order will be sought from the Court".