Roxanne Myers Files $150M Defamation Lawsuit Against Attorney Sanjeev Datadin and News Room

Deputy Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Roxanne Myers, has filed a $150 million defamation lawsuit against Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin and News Room over statements she claims were false, slanderous, and damaging to her reputation.

Represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Eusi Anderson, Myers is seeking $100 million in damages from Datadin in relation to statements that were subsequently published by News Room. She is also seeking an additional $50 million from News Room regarding the publication and circulation of the statements.

In the Statement of Claim filed before the court, Myers stated that on March 6, 2020, during an interview conducted at GECOM’s Command Centre, Datadin allegedly made statements concerning her conduct and actions in her official capacity as Deputy Chief Elections Officer. The interview was later carried by News Room.

According to the claim, Myers contends that the statements suggested she had acted illegally, corruptly, and beyond the scope of her authority in relation to matters concerning the declaration of results for Region Four, Guyana’s largest voting district.

Myers argues that the statements have caused significant damage to her reputation and standing, alleging that they have substantially harmed public perception of her among Guyanese citizens and members of the international community.

In addition to monetary damages, Myers is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages, legal costs, and interest. She is also requesting a permanent injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further publishing or distributing the interview in any form.

Further relief sought includes an order directing that a retraction and apology be published in the online versions of News Room, as well as a mandatory injunction compelling the removal of the interview from News Room’s Facebook page.

Separately, Myers is currently before the court in relation to charges of misconduct in public office connected to matters arising from the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Those proceedings remain before the courts.