Iain Deane Responds To Accusations In The Blogosphere

Dear Barbados Underground Family,

I wrote to Barbados Underground some while ago stating that I would not make any comments about matters pertaining to law suits either in the Barbados or Canadian courts (or in any other country, for that matter) to which I am a party. I continue to stand by that.

I reside in the United Kingdom and am currently visiting Barbados . The primary reason for my visit is because I am responding to a request to make myself available to the Honourable High Court (Civil) to be examined and cross-examined as a witness in a trial to be heard later this week.

I was made aware this morning of the latest defamatory statements and misidentification made about me by the Keltruth Blog that purports to be owned and operated by certain of my cousins, namely Kathy Davis née Knox and her siblings.

Without indulging in the type of total and lamentable lack of respect for the Honourable Ontario Superior Court of Justice exhibited by whoever runs and operates Keltruth (which may or may not be my cousins – I have only seen unidentifiable and legally unverifiable claims that Keltruth is indeed owned and operated by my cousins, but I am not convinced of this at all) I wish to state categorically that I am NOT the blogger on Barbados Underground that Keltruth mis-identifies me as being and who writes about matters pertaining to Kingsland Estates Limited.

I refer your readers to Google and I invite you to enter the search criteria “Iain Deane Barbados ”. You will be astonished to learn, at the very first of the multitudinous entries (over 1.15 million of them) that I am a “co-accused” of the Prime Minister of Barbados and that in addition I am being hidden by Barbados ’ Chief Justice, Sir David Simmons. This must amaze the Chief and Lady Simmons, both of whom I have met a couple (meaning two) times. They must be searching their home to find out just which part of it they are hiding me in. As for the PM, since the use of the word “co-accused” imputes criminal wrongdoing, especially when used in connection with legal proceedings, the PM must be equally astonished to find out that he and I have been criminally indicted for the same unidentified crime.

A while ago, I attended a meeting with my banker in London . We had never met and I wanted to get the bank to provide me with the where-with-all to buy a house. I was told by my banker that the first thing he does when meeting someone he does not know is to google their name. Accordingly, I was placed in the extremely embarrassing position of having to explain myself in relation to the scandalous blogs emanating from Keltruth and its sister blog in order to secure the funds to purchase my house.

This was but the first of many such explanations I have had to provide, not only to people with whom I do business, but also to friends and family who, almost universally, have asked me what the hell is going on. I have been forced to respond to these one-sided and unsupported/unsupportable blogs by providing documentary back-up for my explanations/justifications. I refute any suggestions that in protecting myself and my professional standing and earning capacity that I have done anything other than to try to counter the effects of these scurrilous and malicious scandals emanating from Keltruth and it sister blog.. I sincerely doubt that ANY court would find me lacking in respect for it for effectively being forced to protect my personal and professional life from these calumnies.

I noted with interest that there is one other Iain Deane in the world. He lives in Scotland. I have no doubt whatsoever that from time to time he is also being forced to give an account of himself because of the defamatory remarks of the Keltruth Blog and its sister blog. By the way, I have abundant reason to believe that this other Iain Deane is, like myself, a member of British Equity, which explains exactly why when I joined British Equity I was forced to alter my professional name – which my Knox cousins know full well. And which is why I cannot quite credit that they are the ones behind the defamations of Keltruth, particularly this latest one with its references to my acting career. On that basis alone it would appear that my cousins are either the victims of attempted identity theft OR they are liars by omission – which would mean they are liars. I prefer to believe, given their religious fervour and their claim of strict adherence to the Scriptures, that they, like me, are victims of the defamations of Keltruth and its sister blog and, in their case, identity theft, as opposed to the identity confusion that must be dogging the other Iain Deane. To the other Iain Deane, my commiserations and sympathy, sir. I know and feel your pain.

In the latest from the Keltruth Blog, it has chosen, for reasons I cannot explain, to search the Internet for references to my former profession, that of an actor. The only reference they claim to be able to find (for which I thank them as I was unaware of it and it occurred before British Equity required that I change my name) is in connection with a stage production back in 1982 of Shakespeare’s The Tempest in which I co-starred with Jeremy Brett. I suspect that the only reason that this reference (as it was a stage show) exists on the Internet is because of Jeremy Brett, who (now deceased) has become a cult figure due to his portrayal of the title role of Sherlock Holmes in the Granada TV series.

I have also to conclude that whoever the Keltruth blogger is, they have carefully selected a reference containing a negative review – of which in the course of my acting career, I (like all other actors) have had my fair share. In an acting career spanning 21 years, I have had many excellent reviews and quite a few bad to VERY bad reviews as well. The worst of these reviews was from one critic in Winnipeg who seriously did NOT like my performance as Nicky Arnstein in the musical Funny Girl. That, for the research information of Keltruth, was in 1981 at the famous Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg and was, if memory serves, published in the Winnipeg Free Press. Fortunately, the other Winnipeg papers liked my performance a lot. What I am saying is that if you are an actor, reviews of either sort go with the territory. In The Tempest with Jeremy Brett, they were universally horrid, except for one from Canada ’s late critic emeritus, Herbert Whitaker – and his was so good that I was easily able to put aside the bad ones from those less distinguished hacks.

In any event, to put the whole issue into perspective, I quote the great and historic English actor, David Garrick. “An actor’s name is written on the water,” said Garrick. As it turns out, in the case of David Garrick (1717 – 1779) this was not the case – he turned out to be the exception that proved his own rule. However, in my case, it is doubly true. I have not been an actor (nor claimed to be one) for over 16 years now and I have no intention of returning to that profession. So I need neither reviews nor credits any longer. They are irrelevant.

Keltruth has published a photograph of me that it is at pains to ensure its readers know is an old photo. Let me help Keltruth out. It is a VERY old photograph. It is 23 years old. It was taken in 1986. I will be 60 years old on May 25^th this year and I have never lied about nor exaggerated, up or down, my age. I mean, it is a matter of public record, so why bother.

My profession now is that of a producer and director. Just so that if Keltruth’s search for credits for me are unsuccessful, let me assist by stating that in 2007 (mere months after my return to the United Kingdom to live) I produced and directed a show in London that starred a two-time best actress Oscar winner – there are not a lot of them about – along with other actors of iconic status and legendary stars of the opera, as well as other, hopefully and deservedly, soon-to-be legendary singers. There is a CD of this show that can be purchased, with the money from your purchase going to a music school charity.

In 2008, I produced and directed three shows of which two were filmed and are now being edited – in fact, while here in Barbados I have received the first cut of one of these for my directions on editing the final version. I have already been engaged for three shows in 2009. However, each and every time prior to being contracted, I had been forced to fully explain and justify myself to my engagers, as a result of the scandalous blogs on Keltruth ably seconded and supported by its sister blog. I have no way of knowing how many job opportunities have NOT come my way as a direct result of these defamatory blogs.

Keltruth also seems fixated by my citizenship and describes me as being British – which is only half true. I was born and raised in Barbados , being the first child of a Bajan father and a Scottish mother. That therefore means that I am Bajan by birth and British by ancestry – two citizenships which, by the laws of Barbados and Britain , I am allowed to hold. In 1972, I immigrated to Canada in order to pursue my now-abandoned profession as an actor, director and writer. Therefore, I am Canadian by naturalization, which is also legal. However, if asked anywhere in the world to describe myself, I ALWAYS say that I am Barbadian – and proud to be so. Quite apart from it being true, it makes me far more unusual than your run-of-the mill Brit or Canadian or American or German……

Keltruth coyly refers to me as being a bachelor, which is untrue. By this description used in the ancient past by the press to suggest that the person so described was homosexual, Keltruth clearly intends to say that I am gay. Days have changed greatly since then.

Let me set the record straight (no pun intended). I was married on January 10^th 2006 in Toronto under the terms and conditions of the Ontario Marriages Act to my same-sex partner of 7 years. So Keltruth, typically, is half right. This is what makes me think that Keltruth may NOT be written by my Knox cousins, since they (and their mother) certainly knew all about it. Also, I find it hard to believe that my Knox cousins would use the “bachelor” line and its obviously intended connotation in connection with myself, since my cousin, John Knox, is himself, at over 50 years of age, a bachelor – and I hasten to state that I do not impute or imply in any way that John Knox is gay. Frankly, it is all a non-issue to start with – and John Knox himself told me some years ago that he is NOT gay. I saw no reason then (or now) to disbelieve John, probably based on his George Washington- like claim of not being able to tell a lie. In any event, I am really not interested and have far more compelling things to do with my time – like persuading prospective engagers that I am neither a criminal in league with Barbados ’ PM, nor am I being hidden by the Chief Justice and Lady Simmons.

So, let me repeat. The blogs on Keltruth by their scandalous reports, have forced me to refute certain of the allegations as and when required by family, friends and for professional purposes and to provide documentary backup therefor.

I have NEVER provided documents of any sort to any blogs nor have I penned blogs commenting on matters before the courts. I am not the blogger that Keltruth has chosen to identify me as being and I have no way of knowing the identity of the blogger either. Any suspicions I may have (and of course I do have some) are not proved and, at best, like Keltruth, guesses – and, like Keltruth most certainly is in my case, I could easily be wrong. After all, the over 60 defendants in the Ontario action must be confronting the same need to explain and documentarily justify themselves as I am.

I have not acted for 16 years and have no intention of returning to that profession.

I am a married man and that is a matter of public record.

I am almost 60 years old.

I refuse (and have not and will not) discuss on the blogs any of the lawsuits in any country to which I am a party, either before or after they have determined.

My business dealings have always been completely transparent and above board.

I do not defame anyone, unless I can claim fair comment and justification in my defense – and most times, not even then as it usually isn’t worth the time and effort.

MALICE has never been my style. I leave that to lesser people who need to go and get a life.

Lastly, I am not now nor have I ever been anonymous. At almost age 60, I would find it impossible (not to mention highly undesirable) to start now.

Best wishes to you all.

Iain Deane

(the one from Barbados )