Former government Minister Devant Maharaj has lost his judicial claim against Communications Minister Donna Cox, after the High Court ruled on Wednesday that there was not enough evidence to consider him a bonafide journalist. 

Mr. Maharaj filed his claim in April, after his requests to attend government’s daily press briefings as a member of the media pool were denied. At the time the former UNC Minister contended that he has a social media following which provides his audience with news content.

In his ruling on Wednesday, however, Justice Kevin Ramcharan said “the mere fact that he has a substantial following on social media is insufficient to say that he is a journalist. Many people have substantial followings on social media”. He said it is the court’s view that Maharaj had only “put on the cloak of a journalist” in order to gain access to the COVID-19 virtual media conferences. “At best he is a journalist of convenience,” Justice Ramcharan said.

Hours after the decision was handed down, Mr. Maharaj announced plans to appeal.

“I firmly maintain that I have been denied equality of treatment by the state, and as such, my Constitutional Rights violently infringed upon. I have the same right to appear at the media press briefings as Astrenut News, Rhoda Bharath, and other on-line voices and social media journalist. In the recent past citizens have to depend and rely on the Privy Council on similar matters for ultimate justice,” Mr. Maharaj said.

He will be represented by his attorney, Anand Ramlogan SC.