Tweet
P.J. PATTERSON BASHES ABUSE OF JAMAICAN FLAG
s
April 29, 2012
While prime minister Portia Simpson-Miller still refuses to lend her own voice to the greenless flag fiasco on March 29. 2012, former prime minister (1992-2006) P.J. Patterson has condemned the controversial issue which has rocked the ruling People’s National Party (PNP).
Notwithstanding Mrs. Simpson-Miller’s insistence that the relevant representatives of the party had already addressed the issue, Mr. Patterson was not in any compromising mood in addressing the flag foul-up at a recent Parish Council function. “Any attempt to make a political issue or create a partisan divide is unacceptable and will be firmly rejected by the People’s National Party” said Mr. Patterson. While talking about respect for each other, he emphasized that it was important too to respect the national symbols.
However, like all associates of the PNP who have weighed in on the volatile issue, Mr. Patterson stayed far from the calls to remove the mayor of Montego Bay, Mr. Glendon Harris for his involvement in the foul-up, and the three false statements he made on the matter.
It was Mr. Denton Edwards, who falsified the comments that the newly-installed Montego Bay mayor made on Thursday, April 12, 2012 that painted him as incompetent, inter alia. Mr. Edwards was the man who secured the contract to perform décor services at the swearing-in ceremony of the mayor of Montego Bay and other councillors of the St. James Parish Council at the Town Hall of the Montego Bay Civic Centre in Sam Sharpe Square
The mayor, Montego Bay’s first citizen, who had an issue to address immediately, reportedly said he was not aware of the missing green until somebody brought his attention to it after the ceremony, even though he was robed right in front of it. The following day in a meeting inside the St. James Parish Council he said that the contractor, Mr. Edwards had taken full responsibility for the foul up noting that there was a shortage of green material. He also made it clear that Mr. Edwards said he was going to refund the money he received for the contract.
However, Mr. Edwards dismissed those three comments by the mayor as false, noting that there was not a shortage of green material; that he did not take responsibility for the foul up as he did what he was instructed to do; and that he was not prepared to refund the $30,000 that he was paid for the job. Mr. Edwards made his reply in a letter that was sent to his lawyer George Thomas on Friday, March 13, 2012.
Some JLP supporters had expressed their disappointment that Keith Desmond Knight did not come out and declare the mayor a pathological and mendacious liar as he had cited Bruce Golding in his part in the infamous Manatt, Phelps And Phillips issue.
Officially, only PNP chairman Robert Pickersgill said anything of worth on the issue when on Thursday, April 12, 2012, he expressed profound regret and unreservedly condemned what he cited as misuse of the colours of the Jamaican flag.
“The PNP has always been respectful, and will continue to be, of all civic ceremonies, including civic functions organised for the swearing in of mayors and councillors,” he said.
“Even more so, the PNP has always jealously guarded the Jamaican flag as a symbol of dignity, achievement and the fierce independence of our people and country.”
s
April 29, 2012
While prime minister Portia Simpson-Miller still refuses to lend her own voice to the greenless flag fiasco on March 29. 2012, former prime minister (1992-2006) P.J. Patterson has condemned the controversial issue which has rocked the ruling People’s National Party (PNP).
Notwithstanding Mrs. Simpson-Miller’s insistence that the relevant representatives of the party had already addressed the issue, Mr. Patterson was not in any compromising mood in addressing the flag foul-up at a recent Parish Council function. “Any attempt to make a political issue or create a partisan divide is unacceptable and will be firmly rejected by the People’s National Party” said Mr. Patterson. While talking about respect for each other, he emphasized that it was important too to respect the national symbols.
However, like all associates of the PNP who have weighed in on the volatile issue, Mr. Patterson stayed far from the calls to remove the mayor of Montego Bay, Mr. Glendon Harris for his involvement in the foul-up, and the three false statements he made on the matter.
It was Mr. Denton Edwards, who falsified the comments that the newly-installed Montego Bay mayor made on Thursday, April 12, 2012 that painted him as incompetent, inter alia. Mr. Edwards was the man who secured the contract to perform décor services at the swearing-in ceremony of the mayor of Montego Bay and other councillors of the St. James Parish Council at the Town Hall of the Montego Bay Civic Centre in Sam Sharpe Square
The mayor, Montego Bay’s first citizen, who had an issue to address immediately, reportedly said he was not aware of the missing green until somebody brought his attention to it after the ceremony, even though he was robed right in front of it. The following day in a meeting inside the St. James Parish Council he said that the contractor, Mr. Edwards had taken full responsibility for the foul up noting that there was a shortage of green material. He also made it clear that Mr. Edwards said he was going to refund the money he received for the contract.
However, Mr. Edwards dismissed those three comments by the mayor as false, noting that there was not a shortage of green material; that he did not take responsibility for the foul up as he did what he was instructed to do; and that he was not prepared to refund the $30,000 that he was paid for the job. Mr. Edwards made his reply in a letter that was sent to his lawyer George Thomas on Friday, March 13, 2012.
Some JLP supporters had expressed their disappointment that Keith Desmond Knight did not come out and declare the mayor a pathological and mendacious liar as he had cited Bruce Golding in his part in the infamous Manatt, Phelps And Phillips issue.
Officially, only PNP chairman Robert Pickersgill said anything of worth on the issue when on Thursday, April 12, 2012, he expressed profound regret and unreservedly condemned what he cited as misuse of the colours of the Jamaican flag.
“The PNP has always been respectful, and will continue to be, of all civic ceremonies, including civic functions organised for the swearing in of mayors and councillors,” he said.
“Even more so, the PNP has always jealously guarded the Jamaican flag as a symbol of dignity, achievement and the fierce independence of our people and country.”
Comment