Multimillion Dollar Lawsuit Filed Against PNP’s Dr Alfred Dawes

Lawyers for Medical Technology, MediTech and Central Kingston Member of Parliament, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Donovan Williams have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against People’s National Party caretaker for South East St. Catherine, Dr. Alfred Dawes.

The lawsuit concerns allegations by Dr. Dawes that the process used by the South East Regional Health Authority, SERHA, to buy a neurosurgical drill from MediTech was mired in corruption.

Dr. Dawes, who’s also Opposition Spokesman on Health, made the allegation at a media conference last week.

The lead attorney for Williams and Meditech, Georgia Hamilton, filed the defamation suit against Dawes in the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston on Monday.

Williams and MediTech are seeking damages for defamation, including aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as claims for special damages.

The claimants are also seeking an injunction restraining Dr. Dawes, whether by himself, his servants, or agents or otherwise from further publishing or causing to be published the said or similar statements defamatory about them.

The court has also been asked to order Dr. Dawes to pay the legal fees of Williams and MediTech which will arise from the legal proceedings.

Dr. Dawes has insisted that the drill could have been obtained at a cheaper cost and that so called ‘hankey pankey’ dogged the procurement process.

But SERHA has hit back and argued that it abided by the recommended procurement process and that the intended purchase represents value for money as the equipment is key to saving the lives of children at Bustamante Hospital.