KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has filed a defamation suit against a senior official of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) following statements made at a public meeting on March 2 this year.
McKenzie, who is also the deputy leader of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is arguing that he had been defamed when the PNP’s Damion Crawford. He made statements at the meeting that contained “words that were false and defamatory,” and as a result, he has suffered “injury, loss and damage.”
In the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, McKenzie said that he had been put to “expense and suffered loss and damage including damage to his reputation” since Crawford’s statements and that he has had to answer questions from financiers and business interests and even ordinary Jamaican citizens about his integrity.
McKenzie further claims that he “has been shunned by individuals in public spaces who have concluded that he was involved in malfeasance” and that despite the defendant’s receipt of a letter of demand dated March 4, 2025, which set out all the relevant facts, Crawford has failed, neglected and/or refused to apologize, retract or offer any amends whatsoever.
McKenzie is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages plus interest.
and then 