A 2027 trial date has been set in the defamation case between Major Basil Jarrett and former members of the Jamaica College (JC) School Board.

A Supreme Court document seen by the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday lists JC Principal Wayne Robinson, Michael Bernard, Lance Hylton, Errol Holmes, Ian Forbes, Jimmy Hylton, Renee Rattray, Anthony Robinson, and Alan Beckford as claimants against Jarrett, the defendant and former JC Old Boys’ Association (JCOBA) president.

The document indicates that a trial, which is to take place before a judge alone, is set for May 3 to 7, 2027.

The claimants allege that statements made by Jarrett, in his capacity as the then JCOBA president at a meeting, were defamatory and caused reputational harm.

Jarrett has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has maintained that his statements were made in the best interest of the JC community.

The defamation claim follows a previously dismissed lawsuit that Robinson had brought against Jarrett, accusing him of misappropriating $3 million from the sale of school uniforms.

The Observer has learnt that the 2027 trial is expected to shed further light on the deep-seated divisions within the JC community, which stem largely from the handling of former Principal Ruel Reid’s controversial departure from the school.

On Wednesday, when the Observer contacted Jarrett for comment he said: “I have to defend my name. I will say on the record that I will vigorously defend my name and my reputation against them. I expect to be vindicated in this case as I was in the previous one.”

In the first lawsuit against Jarrett he was accused of stealing $3 million worth of sales from school uniforms.

According to a source, an auditor was called in to audit the books and found nothing unscrupulous.

The suit was struck down.

— Jason Cross