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NLIS 2
February 23, 2001
(Executive Council)

 

Grimes apologizes to Dumaresque

"Mr. Dumaresque has complained publicly about statements I made in commenting on Mr. Efford�s decision not to accept a cabinet position. Mr. Dumaresque has not been in touch with me directly. All of his representations have been made through the media. As a result, I am replying publicly through the media, as well.

"My comments were made in response to questions from members of the press who met with me after Mr. Efford announced his decision. He said then that the only reason he declined my invitation was my refusal of his request that Mr. Dumaresque be given a job as senior policy advisor.

"Mr. Dumaresque, judging from his public statements, interpreted my comments as being an attack upon his honesty and his integrity. They are not. They are statements based on the substantial differences of opinion between us that cause me to question whether he could be supportive of our government�s initiatives. They were not intended to be a personal attack on Mr. Dumaresque.

"Mr. Dumaresque seeks to defend his honour and reputation. I understand that, and I respect him for doing so. My words were not intended to attack his integrity or his honesty in any way, and in my view they did not do so. But I have no hesitation in saying to Mr. Dumaresque, by means of this public statement, that I am sorry if he drew any such inference from anything that I said. I regret this and I apologize to him should he believe his reputation has been brought into question unfairly.

"Mr. Dumaresque, again by means of the media, has threatened to institute legal proceedings against me. I have retained legal counsel, at my own expense, to represent me should this matter proceed further. My statements were comments that gave my honestly-held opinions upon important matters of public interest, and I am advised that I was lawfully entitled to make them."

 

Media contact: Carl Cooper, (709) 729-3960.

2001 02 23                                                           12:15 p.m.


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