Senator Julian Francis, manager of Unity Labour Party (ULP) owned Star FM, on Tuesday apologised on air to Daniel Cummings, MP for West Kingstown, “on behalf of voices” on the station that read or commented on an article in Searchlight on Nov. 22, for which the newspaper has apologised.
Francis, however, went on to quote two court documents and asked that Cummings explain them in light of Cummings’ statement that he was not involved in a court matter and the ordering of the demolition of a house, as Searchlight had reported, resulting in the newspaper’s apology.
Cummings, speaking on radio on Monday, said he has accepted the newspaper’s apology but called on radio stations on which the article was read, to apologise “or else”.
Read: MP says radio stations that read erroneous newspaper article must apologise ‘or else’
Francis, speaking on his weekly programme on Star FM Tuesday night, said the station has not received any letter from Cummings demanding an apology.
He, however, said, “… if Star FM, based on the article that appeared in the newspaper, spoke on this matter and read from the newspaper, and that is what Mr. Cummings is talking about, or whatever else was said on Star FM regarding the newspaper article, now that the newspaper has apologised, I, as the Secretary to the Board of Star Broadcasting Corp. Ltd, and Manager of Star FM, hereby on this radio station, the same radio station that he claims to have embarrassed him, I do apologise to Mr. Cummings.
“I am issuing this apology on behalf of voices, I don’t know which of our radio host or persons or maybe persons who had called in, but they were voiced through this medium and I take this opportunity to apologise to the Honourable Daniel Cummings for any embarrassment caused to him on this matter,” said Francis, who later stated that he had received a text message saying the article was read on the station’s morning programme.
“… I do like Searchlight, and I take the final paragraph of Searchlight as my own, … and I state that as coming from Star FM,” he further said in reference a Page 1 apology Searchlight made to Cummings last Friday.
“Star FM, Mr. Cummings, wishes to express its regret to you, as Member of Parliament for West Kingstown and to apologise … to you for any inconvenience and embarrassment, which may have been caused,” Francis further said. “They tape the programme, so, they will know that Star has apologised. Because he (Cummings) went on to say, he doesn’t do like Ralph Gonsalves, he just ask people to apologise,” Francis said.
“… So, that is settled; we have apologised to Mr. Cummings, and I hope that is the end of that,” Francis further said.
“But, I am going on to deal with this thing, because, you see, sometimes, the way people speak, they must understand that when you say things you must be consistent,” Francis, however, added.
He noted that Cummings had said he was not a party to the case surrounding the demolition of a house, on which Searchlight reported.
“I want Mr. Cummings to explain these two documents that I have in my hand…” Francis said, even as he again noted that he has apologised for what was said on Star FM.
“There is a letter dated 13th September, 2013, addressed to Mr. Derron Dennie … and there is a court document, in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the High Court of Justice, claim number 203 of 2013, between Derron Dennie, the applicant, Esther Hutchinson of Kingstown Park, and Dalius Cummings.
“Esther Hutchinson was the first respondent and Dalius Cumming, the second respondent. This is an affidavit signed by Daniel Ezekiel Cummings.
“Remember he said there that he is not a party. I want Mr. Cummings to explain to the people, having said this — he said he is not a party to the court matter, but there is an affidavit here, signed by him…” Francis said.
He further said that the letter is signed by Daniel Cummings — as administrator, and three beneficiaries and is copied to four other persons.
“I want Mr. Cummings to explain to people what these documents are about. How come that he says that he is not involved when there are these two documents and there is an affidavit signed by him.
“There’s an affidavit signed by Daniel Cummings,” Francis said.
So, that is settled; we have apologised to Mr. Cummings, and I hope that is the end of that,
…But, I am going on to deal with this thing, because, you see, sometimes, the way people speak, they must understand that when you say things you must be consistent,.
What !… Oxymoron?
Julian Francis, you again. Chill out nah’ man. As the saying goes…
“The more things change, the more they remain the same”.