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'SUE ME' - Golding thumbs nose at firm employing Patterson


OPPOSITION LEADER Bruce Golding yesterday brushed aside a threat by the United States consultancy firm, GoodWorks International, to sue him unless he retracts a statement implying a relationship between the firm and Mirant, which has an 80 per cent stake in the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).
However, in reiterating his claim on Friday that it was wrong for former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to have accepted a job with Goodworks as the firm had a relationship with Mirant during its bid to acquire the JPS, Mr. Golding said he is prepared to stand by his statement.
"Tell them to go ahead and make my day," said Mr. Golding, in regard to the threatened lawsuit. "I maintain that it was inappropriate for former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to have accepted the appointment and I will say that before any court."
STATEMENT INCONTROVERTIBLE
In defending his statement, Mr. Golding, who was in St. Elizabeth yesterday to launch the Jamaica Labour Party's election campaign in western Jamaica, said all the information about the relationship between GoodWorks and Mirant could be found on the firm's website. So, as far as he is concerned, his statement is incontrovertible.
"Mirant is one of the clients of GoodWorks. It is listed on their website. That information cannot be refuted," said Mr. Golding with a dismissive swagger and an air of defiance. "If they want to go to court, tell them to be my guest."
Following Mr. Golding's statement on Friday when he questioned Mr. Patterson's association with GoodWorks, Carl Masters, the president and chief executive officer of the American firm, threatened to haul Mr. Golding before the court unless he retract his statement.
THREAT OF COURT ACTION
"If Mr. Golding does not retract it, I will sue him," Mr. Masters told The Sunday Gleaner. "If people want to make difficult points, so be it, but you cannot impugn the reputation of a company and its people."
Retorted Mr. Golding:
"I maintain that Good Works had a relationship with Mirant and that made it inappropriate for Mr. Patterson to have accepted the job. There is nothing to retract."
The top leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party inclusive of Mr. Golding, deputy leader Horace Chang and other party stalwarts such as Audley Shaw and General Secretary Carl Samuda among others, blanketed St. Elizabeth as the party officially launched its campaign to replace the ruling People's National Party in government.