Holness apologises to Williams, Tufton for wrong move in 2013 booting
After describing as a regrettable embarrassment the pickle in which the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has found itself, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness took to the pulpit yesterday to “unreservedly apologise” to Arthur Williams and Dr Christopher Tufton, whom he booted from the Senate through the use of unsigned and undated resignation letters more than a year ago.
“It is important to acknowledge that if I have done something wrong, or my action has been declared wrong, then I have a duty to apologise to those I wronged,” said Holness as he addressed the congregation at the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew.
“And so today, I do so unreservedly apologise to my colleagues and friends, Arthur and Chris, and should it be shown to me that I need to make corrections, then I have the ultimate duty to preserve (the integrity of the Constitution),” he added.
The Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that the request, procurement, and use of pre-signed and undated letters of resignation was inconsistent with the Constitution.
Holness promised to be guided by law after the Constitutional Court ruled that he was wrong in the matter brought against him by Williams.
In extending the apologies, Holness said that he was asked recently by a pastor who had gone to pray with him, who was his favourite Bible personality.
“I couldn’t understand … then he said, ‘Who do you like most in the Bible? All of us here have our favourite Bible personalities – Joseph, Abraham, Job’.”
Added Holness: “I, too, identify with Joseph, but in this instance, I feel like David, a great leader and king, who made some mistakes. Even he erred, but his heart was always with God.”
