Dear Editor

Mr George Rick James clearly did not hear my interview with Serpent in the Snake Pit or his understanding of the English language is flawed.

In a Letter to the Editor which appeared in the Monday, June 11 issue of The Daily OBSERVER he wrote: “… the attorney general crept out of the woodwork in a cloak and dagger manner and gamely disclosed on a radio talk show that a prominent opposition member approached him with a view of cutting a backroom deal.”

I may be bearded like Shakespeare’s Cassius but I surely do not have “a mean and hungry look,” nor was I dangerously flirting with the makings of a deal.

My explanation was simple. Asot Michael approached me in the chamber and informed me that it was the intention of the leader of the opposition to withdraw the motion. Simple, straightforward, nothing more.

Having reviewed the Standing Orders of the House and recognizing that the withdrawal of the motion would need the consent of the House, I then advised him that we on the Government side would not be supporting a motion of withdrawal.

That to my mind, Mr Rick James, does not constitute a deal of any kind, and I would appreciate your not repeating that allegation as it is scandalous and defamatory within the prevailing political climate.