Devon Dick, in his column of Thursday, July 23, called on me to apologise to Minister Dorothy Lightbourne. According to him, the "TV clip I saw did not provide any evidence to substantiate his most serious allegation. He should apologise or provide the evidence of the allegation".
The minister has repeatedly reincarnated the incident when, some years ago in Gordon House, I described, on a subsequent date, using an expletive, the contro-versial abstention vote registered by then Minister Portia Simpson Miller. Where, however, Minister Lightbourne has not been truthful is in her allegation that I "used bad words to Mrs Simpson Miller in this very Parliament. I heard it". Parliament was not in session when I used the expletive; my statement then to Mrs Simpson Miller was "what you did was ....". Minister Lightbourne could not have heard it, she was not there. The only reporter there was from the print media, no TV, no radio! Only four persons were close around Mrs Simpson Miller - an MP, the reporter and myself.
Abstention vote
The impression given by Miss Lightbourne is that the forbidden word was used in the House while Parliament was in session, and so in the presence of other members; that she heard it (because either TV or radio broadcast it); that the word was used in reference to Mrs Simpson Miller herself and not to describe the abstention vote.
A minister who is also the attorney general should appreciate the differences. It was for those reasons that I told the minister, "you are lying". There is no hope of Minister Lightbourne resigning. My hope is that when she repeats her charge against me, as she will, consideration will be given to the account herein.
Mrs Simpson Miller and myself have put a great gulf between that incident and our present relationship. As for me, "let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man" Ecclesiastes 12:13.
There will be no further response from me on this matter. It is concluded!
I am, etc.,
SENATOR K.D. KNIGHT
Kingston