Nicholson says he's ready to apologise to Michael Gayle's mom
November 25, 2005
JAMAICA'S attorney-general AJ Nicholson said yesterday that he was willing to meet, as soon as possible, with the mother of Michael Gayle and offer a personal apology for the circumstances of her son's death and the agony she had to endure.
Nicholson's offer to apologise to Jenny Cameron, in the presence of her attorney, came on the heels of fresh criticisms yesterday from the human rights body, Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), which issued a press release in the name of its well-known adviser, lawyer Richard Small.
Small noted that the "entire conduct of the attorney-general in relation to the issue of an apology to Mr Michael Gayle's family has not been sincere".
Earlier this month, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned the government's handling of the case, saying Gayle's right to life, personal liberty, a fair trial and judicial protection had been violated.
The commission had also recommended a public apology, but Nicholson noted at the time that the government had already apologised and expressed regret at the killing in reports.
However, yesterday Small noted that "a genuine apology is made directly to the persons aggrieved. The attorney-general claims that he apologised to Miss Cameron and the other members of Mr Gayle's family by sending a press release to the media.
"It is an insult to send an apology to the media and claim that it was meant to be an apology to the injured family. Mr Gayle's family has never had even the courtesy of a copy of this news release," Small added.
But Nicholson contended yesterday that the press release in question reflected "the public position of the government and the fact that we continue to be deeply disturbed with what happened to Michael Gayle on August 3, 1999 that resulted in his death".
He said that it would be quite wrong for any organisation claiming to represent the interest of the Gayle family to think that the government was not "very mindful" of the implications of what happened.
Author: Rickey Singh
Source: Jamaica Observer
