BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT was short of an apology, but former Member of Parliament in the local Federal Assembly G. A. Dwyer Astaphan has echoed the request of Antigua and Barbuda MP Asot Michael by asking that one of his (Astaphan’s) commentaries be retracted by the media houses that published it.
At about 2:20 yesterday afternoon (Apr. 27), SKNVibes received an email from Astaphan in which was attached a letter he sent to Michael.
According to the email, “It is the wish of both Mr. Michael and myself that we put this matter behind us and that those of you who are still carrying the subject article on your websites to remove same.”
The attached correspondence reads,
“I wish to assure you that in relation to my article entitled‘Busted in India?’, published in several media agencies in St. Kitts & Nevis and Antigua & Barbuda, I had absolutely no desire or intention to malign or impugn your good name and character.
“And if any displeasure or discomfort was felt by you as a result, I do regret the same.
“You and I have known each other for many years, personally and in public life. I know that you are a very energetic, proactive and intellectually able elected representative of St. Peter’s Constituency in Antigua, and very popular with your constituents. And a key person in your Party in Antigua & Barbuda.
“I also know that you have been one of the more energized leaders in your country in the cause of economic activity in the island of the sub-region, including yours and mine.
“I will, with your permission, share this letter with the media so that they will understand that the article is behind us, and that we have made our peace.
“Accordingly, I will also request that they retract the article.”
The article in question, ‘Busted in India?’, was disseminated by Astaphan on April 11, 2012 and published by this media house on the same day.
The article – among other things – raised certain questions which involved Michael.
Shortly after its publication by this and other media houses across St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda, Michael wrote to Astaphan demanding a public apology and full retraction of the article.
He described the article as “viciously inaccurate, wantonly slanderous, and deliberately harmful”, noting that it “dabbles in character lynching”
Astaphan had told this publication that in relation to this matter, he had put it in the hand of his attorneys and that they would deal with it appropriately.
The former Constituency Number Two Representative’s most recent correspondence with the media came as a surprise to many and has given rise to a number of questions about what exactly led to his perceived change of heart.
Since receiving Astaphan’s latest email, this media house has removed the article from its website.
