Calypsonian Weston “Cro Cro” Rawlins has been ordered to pay $250,000 to businessman Inshan Ishmael for defamatory lyrics in his 2023 song “Another Sat is Outside Again”.

Mr Ishmael filed a legal case after video recordings of Cro Cro performing the song went viral.

He claimed the lyrics directly name, identify and attack him.

The ruling was delivered today by Justice Frank Seepersad in the High Court.

Justice Seepersad is quoted as saying “This Court will not condone or accept any position which advances a narrative that social media comments or commentary by calypsonians are sacrosanct or that calypsonians should be free to say whatever they feel as they ‘speak their minds’ even if their content is divisive, derogatory, deceitful, dishonest or defamatory.”

According to Newsday, the defamation claim also included the Copyright Organisation of T&T, however that was dismissed by the judge.

Commenting on the ruling, Mr Ishmael praised the efforts of his legal team and vowed to donate the entire sum to charitable efforts.