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Central [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Manchester[/COLOR][/COLOR] MP withdraws accusation against Audley Shaw
The impending parliamentary battle between House members Peter Bunting and Audley Shaw fizzled in the House on Wednesday afternoon.
The People's National Party (PNP) member for Central Manchester withdrew his accusation that the Finance Minister misled Parliament in his [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]budget[/COLOR][/COLOR] presentation when he suggested the previous administration and a company run by Mr. Bunting at the time were involved in "[COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]sweetheart[/COLOR][/COLOR] deals".
Mr. Bunting remains adamant that there was nothing in his former company's transactions with the then-PNP goverment that could be described as a "sweetheart" deal.
However, he has conceded that he may have misinterpreted Mr. Shaw's words.
Mr. Bunting said he thought Mr. Shaw was referring to the outright sale by the government of its share of the FINSAC [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]bad [COLOR=blue! important]debts[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] administered by the Jamaica Redevelopment Fund.
He told the House that given that this misunderstanding on his part as to the transaction the Minister was referring to, he was withdrawing his statement.
"I am willing to concede that what did take place thereafter was a 120-day [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]financing[/COLOR][/COLOR] facility to the Ministry of Finance on an ‘arms length' term from which on the [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]documentation[/COLOR][/COLOR] could appear to be a sale of these same receivables," said Mr. Bunting.
"Therefore given that there was a misunderstanding on my part about the transaction the minister was referring to, I am withdrawing my statement that the minister misled the House because no such transction occurred and regret any confusion this may have caused," he said.
But some members were not swayed by his act of contrition and demanded an outright apology.
This sparked heated [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]cross[/COLOR][/COLOR] talk in the Chamber led by South West St. Catherine MP, Everald Warmington.
"He withdrew the statement as it relates to the minister. What I want, and what the House wants is an apology to the House," said Mr. Warmington.
The matter was finally laid after the motion to have a Parliamentary committee review the matter was withdrawn by Deputy House Leader Andrew Gallimore.
The impending parliamentary battle between House members Peter Bunting and Audley Shaw fizzled in the House on Wednesday afternoon.
The People's National Party (PNP) member for Central Manchester withdrew his accusation that the Finance Minister misled Parliament in his [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]budget[/COLOR][/COLOR] presentation when he suggested the previous administration and a company run by Mr. Bunting at the time were involved in "[COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]sweetheart[/COLOR][/COLOR] deals".
Mr. Bunting remains adamant that there was nothing in his former company's transactions with the then-PNP goverment that could be described as a "sweetheart" deal.
However, he has conceded that he may have misinterpreted Mr. Shaw's words.
Mr. Bunting said he thought Mr. Shaw was referring to the outright sale by the government of its share of the FINSAC [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]bad [COLOR=blue! important]debts[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] administered by the Jamaica Redevelopment Fund.
He told the House that given that this misunderstanding on his part as to the transaction the Minister was referring to, he was withdrawing his statement.
"I am willing to concede that what did take place thereafter was a 120-day [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]financing[/COLOR][/COLOR] facility to the Ministry of Finance on an ‘arms length' term from which on the [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]documentation[/COLOR][/COLOR] could appear to be a sale of these same receivables," said Mr. Bunting.
"Therefore given that there was a misunderstanding on my part about the transaction the minister was referring to, I am withdrawing my statement that the minister misled the House because no such transction occurred and regret any confusion this may have caused," he said.
But some members were not swayed by his act of contrition and demanded an outright apology.
This sparked heated [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]cross[/COLOR][/COLOR] talk in the Chamber led by South West St. Catherine MP, Everald Warmington.
"He withdrew the statement as it relates to the minister. What I want, and what the House wants is an apology to the House," said Mr. Warmington.
The matter was finally laid after the motion to have a Parliamentary committee review the matter was withdrawn by Deputy House Leader Andrew Gallimore.
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