Andrew Holness, Member of Parliament for West Central St. Andrew, yesterday apologised to Bishop Herro Blair, head of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), for refusing to shake his hand during a tour of his troubled constituency on Wednesday.

"I have great respect - indeed reverence for Bishop Herro Blair and if my actions offended him I apologise unreservedly," Mr. Holness said yesterday during a press conference, held at his constituency office in St. Andrew.

"It is important to note in a moment of emotion, I hesitated to shake his hands," he said, noting that they both left the area on amicable terms.

Beyond reproach

According to Mr. Holness, it is important that the office of the Political Ombudsman be beyond reproach and not be impugned or demeaned in any way.

"Symbolism is not going to bring peace to the inner city and the nation needs to stand up and pay attention to that," a tearful Mr. Holness said.

On Wednesday, a tour of Mr. Holness' constituency by the PMI was aborted when placard-bearing Jamaica Labour Party supporters refused to join the walk through the community. Mr. Holness had informed Bishop Blair that he would not be a part of the tour because of some issues that he had with People's National Party caretaker Patrick Roberts.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) yesterday said it was concerned about the recent escalation of political violence.