By Keril Wright, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
PEOPLES NATIONAL Party (PNP) activist Roy 'Tenny' Miller, who indicated recently that he would be bringing lawsuits against fellow party members, Montego Bay's Mayor Hugh Solomon and St. James, West Central Member of Parliament, Arthur Nelson, may settle the matter out of court.
Miller has accused Solomon of physically assaulting him at a PNP Region Four anniversary party in December and accused Nelson of defaming his character at the same venue.
His attorney Clive Mullings, told The Gleaner that Miller had informed him that the PNP's campaign manager, Dr. Paul Robertson, had contacted him with a view to settling the matter out of court.
"There is the possibility of discussing a settlement," Mullings said. "Miller has informed me that he received a call from Dr. Robertson and has instructed him to call me."
In recent weeks, Mr. Mullings announced that his client had instructed him to go ahead and file lawsuits against Mayor Solomon and Nelson. The Mayor has been selected by the PNP to replace Mr. Nelson, who has opted to leave representational politics. The Gleaner was unable to reach Dr. Robertson yesterday for comment. PNP Region Four organiser, Delano Dowdie, said an internal settlement would be welcomed by the region's executive.
"We are still at a position where an internal settlement can be worked out," Dowdie said. "It was not as if it was a malicious situation, it was just an unfortunate incident."
He added that the situation at this point could certainly be resolved through verbal or written apologies by the parties involved.
"The executive wants to get this out of the way so we can move on to other things," he said.
Mr. Nelson likewise welcomed the idea of resolving the matter internally.
"The reality is, it was just a little thing. I think it would be sensible for it to be resolved internally," he said.
Police at the Coral Gardens Police Station had confirmed last month that Miller had reported assault allegations against Solomon. They said Miller, who reported that the Mayor punched him, was referred to a doctor for a medical examination. The police said then that they would pursue criminal charges against Mayor Solomon if Miller wanted to do so.
