The American Entertainment International (AEI) Speakers Bureau is suing American civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson for failing to attend a political rally organised by the United National Congress (UNC) two years ago.A report in All Headline News (AHN) in Chicago, Illinois Friday said that AEI is suing Jackson for US$100,000 claiming that Jackson’s failure to appear at the rally in Trinidad in November 2007 cost the company US$63,932 in lost commissions and US$36,068 for a chartered jet.
Jackson was supposed to attend the closing rally of the United National Congress (UNC) for the 2007 general election at Aranguez on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007 but never showed up.
The news report in the U.S. said Jackson explained that he cancelled the speaking engagement because of “a desire to avoid the perception of showing favouritism to a Trinidad and Tobago political party". It acknowledged that Jackson didn't take the US$75,000 (US) fee.
Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma had claimed the People’s National Movement (PNM) lobbied Jackson to avoid speaking on a UNC platform. The UNC's official explanation at the time of the rally was that Jackson's private jet was denied permission to land because the runway at Piarco International Airport was closed for repairs.
The government jeered at that explanation stating that it was common knowledge that the runway was undergoing repairs and all aviation interests were aware of that and had made alternative arrangements for traffic in and out of Trinidad and Tobago.
UNC Alliance Deputy Political Leader Jack Warner is unaware of the legal action against Jackson. However he told local media he had written to AEI asking for a refund of the personal funds that he had deposited for Jackson's speaking engagement.
He admitted that Jackson's decision to stay away caused the party embarrassment on the eve of the election. The Newsday newspaper quoted Warner as saying that members of the Congress of the People (COP) had asked Jackson not to attend the rally.
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