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Gordon 'Butch' Stewart

The Editor, Sir:

It was Shakespeare who said "Ambition should be made of sterner stuff". I would like to put it this way: Criticism should come from sterner stuff than Frank Pringle whose dislike for John Lynch is legendary.

Pringle's comments on Mr Lynch in a deliberately one-sided and unprofessional article on Page A3 of The Sunday Gleaner, October 28, must have been based on memory failure.

He makes reference to meeting with me in 1986, at which time I was supposed to have complained about some matter of a conflict of interest.

No such meeting

I had no such meeting with him and that 'recollection' could only have been conjured up by his fevered imagination.

If the writer of the article, Ms. Janet Silvera, had done the right thing and tried to get my side of the story, I would have been able to disabuse her of such fallacy.

People who know me over these many years know very well that I say what is on my mind and I don't speak out of the two sides of my mouth.

If I'd had a meeting with Frank Pringle, I have no fear of admitting to that.

In the two or so meetings that we have ever had during his tenure as Shadow Minister and later as Minister of Tourism, I certainly never had the kind of relationship with him that would have led me to even consider expressing my thoughts with respect to any board appointment and conflict of interest matter.

Pringle may have received complaints on this matter oh so many years ago, but certainly not from me.

I say to Pringle the same thing that I say to anyone who may challenge Lynch's appointment as chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board: Let the proof of the pudding be in its eating, and cast your judgment not in anticipation of a man's performance, but after the man has performed.

If one used this approach to assess Pringle's performance as Minister of Tourism, one would most likely come up with nothing more than dithering and pomposity from an individual who thrived on mediocrity.

Criticism, I say again, should come from sterner stuff.

I am, etc.,

GORDON 'Butch' STEWART

Chairman

Sandals Resorts International