Prison officers claiming defamation of character against Govt authorities Article by January 12, 2021 Three prison officers are in the process of filing two separate lawsuits against the Government of Barbados over COVID-19 related issues. Industrial Relations Advisor to the Prison Officers Association of Barbados (POAB) and trade union leader Senator Caswell Franklyn disclosed today that the first action is one of defamation of character against the men whom Government officials had publicly said could not be found for testing for the virus. On New Year’s Day, Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs Wilfred Abrahams made a call during a ‘live’ television and radio broadcast for the three to come forward for testing and urged anyone who knew of their whereabouts to encourage them to do so.