Charles Ganga-Singh takes up Rosalie Hamilton’s defence in Williams libel suit

Kingston Central Member of Parliament Donovan Williams and Rae Town Division Councillor Rosalie Hamilton.

Attorney-at-law Charles Ganga-Singh now acts for Rae Town Division Councillor Rosalie Hamilton, also known as Rosie, in the defamation claim brought by Kingston Central Member of Parliament Donovan Williams. When the matter was mentioned in the Supreme Court on Monday, Ganga-Singh entered his appearance for Hamilton. Hearing was deferred to October 14, 2026, so he can review the file.

The litigation grows out of a sharp clash between the two Jamaica Labour Party politicians. Williams, Kingston Central’s MP and a junior government minister, sued after private voice notes Hamilton recorded were leaked from a party WhatsApp chat and spread on social media. In those messages she questioned how he managed public funds, alleged financial misconduct and political overreach, and said she would campaign against him after what she described as an internal push to drop her as councillor-candidate in the Rae Town Division.

Williams then gave Hamilton 48 hours to issue a public apology and retraction. When none followed, he started Supreme Court defamation proceedings, insisting the claims were wholly untrue and had badly harmed his personal and professional standing. He seeks general, aggravated and exemplary damages.

Earlier, the court granted Williams an interim injunction barring Hamilton from making or publishing further statements said to defame him. The order also directed that material already put out be taken down and forbade parties from circulating case evidence on public platforms.

Hamilton rejects any wrongdoing and is contesting the suit. Her lawyers submit that the remarks fell within her duties as an elected official and addressed public-interest questions about how public resources are administered. They further contend she cannot be forced to pull the recordings from social media, arguing they first circulated in a private WhatsApp group and were later posted by others without her authority.

Separately, Hamilton has sent Williams a cease-and-desist notice, claiming persistent unwanted contact that left her fearful for her safety. Williams has rejected those claims.