WE NOTE with concern an article written by Ms. Barbara Gayle which was published in The Gleaner of Friday, January 18, 2002, headlined: "Supreme Court orders NIBJ to pay couple's expenses."
This headline is entirely misleading and reflects irresponsible reporting on the part of your reporter. The Supreme Court did not order NIBJ to pay the expenses of the Rietties. The order was made for the couple, Royden Keith Riettie and his wife, Lana, to be allowed personal living expenses of $275,000 per month from their personal assets which had been previously frozen by the court by way of a Mareva Injunction, at the instance of NIBJ.
By this means, the institutions in whose coffers the assets are frozen are mandated to allow the Rietties to access the stated amount each month. NIBJ itself has no obligation to pay any expenses of the Rietties.
There is no power in the courts to request such an action of NIBJ and the court's order was either grossly misinterpreted or misrepresented to the public.
