BBC APOLOGISES TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PRIME MINISTER LESTER BIRD

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) today apologised in Open Court to the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda the Honourable Mr Lester B Bird for a libel that was broadcast on the BBC’s Today Programme on Radio 4, the BBC World Service and published on the BBC’s Americas site on the Internet on 5th and 6th July this year.

The apology was made in the High Court in London before Mr Justice Gray.

In the course of the apology the BBC accepted that its reports were inaccurate. The reports had suggested that Mr Bird had expropriated sums of money in excess of $200 million from Antigua and Barbuda’s health care fund, spending it on parties, presents, foreign trips and cosmetic surgery for friends and colleagues.

In addition, the broadcast on the BBC’s Today Programme on Radio 4 suggested that Mr Bird had been involved in gunrunning and drug trafficking.

In its apology, the BBC unreservedly accepted that Mr Bird was not guilty of any such conduct. It also withdrew its statement that Mr Bird had been involved in gunrunning or drug trafficking.

The BBC has agreed to pay damages to Prime Minister Bird and to pay his legal costs. It will also broadcast an apology on BBC Radio 4 at 7.00am and on the BBC World Service at 12 noon and 1.00pm GMT tomorrow (Friday 1st November).

Commenting on the BBC apology, Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to London, Sir Ronald Sanders said, “Justice has been done. The BBC made a false allegation and has now apologised recognising that it made a grave error. Further the payment of damages and legal costs to the Prime Minister is very appropriate given the magnitude of the slur on Mr Bird”.

The High Commissioner added, “The BBC has enhanced its reputation by the apology. While it caused great hurt to Prime Minister Bird by its false reports, it has shown that, as a serious broadcaster, it is willing to apologise when it has made a genuine mistake. This can only enhance its credibility with the global audience to which it directs its programmes”.