‘Start saving!’ - K.D. vows to ‘bruk’ Tufton

Retired politician and former Cabinet minister K.D. Knight has warned Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton to start saving his money, as a defamation lawsuit could cost him dearly.

"I've told my lawyers, when we're done with him, it must bruk like [inaudible]," Knight said.

He was speaking Sunday at the People's National Party (PNP) St Andrew North Eastern Constituency Office Opening for his daughter, Stacey.

Knight is seeking, among other things, damages for defamation, including exemplary and aggravated damages; vindicatory damages; and costs.

"I don't want one cent from him. Every penny will be donated to charity," the former senator and Cabinet minister said.

Knight followed through on his threat to file a lawsuit against Tufton, for allegedly defaming him during a Jamaica Labour Party mass rally held in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, on August 10.

The suit was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday by attorneys from Knight's law firm, Knight, Junor and Samuels. The claim states that Tufton "falsely, recklessly and maliciously and/or without reasonable probable cause, published and/or caused to be published a manipulated audio recording" purportedly to be that of Knight in which defamatory words were spoken.

It stated that the recording played was "wholly false and malicious" as the claimant "has never said those words and in such order in any forum either privately or publicly".

The claim asserts that the manipulated recording deliberately misled thousands of rally-goers and viewers on traditional and social media into believing that Knight considered PNP President Mark Golding unfit to serve as prime minister.

Knight has alleged that the audio recording played by Tufton at the JLP's meeting was doctored. His lawyers have submitted what they say is a copy of the original WhatApp voice message to the court as proof.

The voice message was sent shortly after Golding assumed the leadership of the PNP following a two-way race with Lisa Hanna.

Knight backed Hanna in the contest but said he accepted Golding as leader wholeheartedly after the election ended.

"Comrade leader, I did not vote for you. I did not," he said at his daughter's office opening on Sunday. "Not because I thought you didn't have the capacity, but you know when you get like my age, I see a pretty little girl like Lisa... Yeah. And I'm a girls man. The moment you won, the moment you won, you had my 100 per cent support," he said.