KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – A local company that advocates for religious liberty is threatening to sue over slanderous or libelous remarks that may be made against it.
Ann-Marie Ballantyne, secretary-general and public relations officer of the Thusian Institute For Religious Liberty Inc. (TIRL) said in a statement Monday that her organization “has become aware of some persons who are engaging in the spread of propaganda via the electronic media, clearly aimed at misrepresenting its character and those of its members.
“We wish to categorically state here that any findings of slanderous remarks and or libelous publications against us may be subject to litigation in the court of law as the TIRL has legal personality,” Ballantyne’s statement further said.
The TIRL said it was also taking the opportunity to explain that it is a “a non-profit, non-governmental COMPANY as a Human Rights’ Education service provider with special emphasis on the Right to Religious Liberty.
“Our main business is to advocate for the protection of the fundamental INALIENABLE rights of man.”
The statement said the TIRL was incorporated into St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Feb. 7, 2008 and officially launched on Oct. 12, 2008.
“It is company number 10 of 2008 incorporated under the Company’s Act 1994. The TIRL is funded by its members, fund raising activities and contributions from members of the Thusia Seventh Day Adventist church (TSDAC),” the statement further said.
Meanwhile, Jeanell A. James, secretary and treasurer of the TSDAC, said in a separate statement Monday, “During the past week, a plethora of propaganda has been spread against the Thusia Seventh-Day Adventist Church, questioning its existence as well as the source and validity of our financial operations”.
The church affirmed that it has been in existence here for approximately 15 years and is “an independent, revival and reformation of True Seventh-Day Adventism and ancient apostolic Christianity”.
James further said that tithes and offerings are the church’s sole means of funding, in accordance with Malachi 3:10.
She further said that unlike the TIRL, the TSDAC is not a company and urged persons who “wish to conduct further investigations” about the entity to visit www.escapeforthylife.com “for truthful information”.