Apology to organisers of Passa Passa

In two articles published in our papers titled 'Dudus threat' (The Gleaner on March 2, 2010) and 'Dudus: The man who holds a nation hostage' (The Sunday Gleaner on May 23, 2010), The Gleaner Company Limited erroneously reported that Mr Michael Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and his company, Presidential Click, were involved in the organisation and management of the popular Passa Passa street dance.

We made these assertions about Passa Passa without proper investigation and recognise that this may have led to an unfavourable association by our readership between Mr Coke and Passa Passa.

The Gleaner Company has since ascertained and recognises that:

The 'Passa Passa' name is a registered business name, registered in Jamaica as of the 14th day of April, 2007 and operated by George Wentworth Miles and O'Neil Miles.

Prodigal Entertainment Limited is a company incorporated under the laws of Jamaica on the 8th day of December, 2006. The directors of Prodigal Entertainment Limited are Dylan Powe and O'Neil Miles.

The Miles family and Prodigal Entertainment Ltd have staged the Passa Passa event at 47 Spanish Town Road since Ash Wednesday 2003, and it has been taking place regularly since that time.

The Gleaner Company sincerely apologises for its errors and apologises for any embarrassment or damage caused to Prodigal Entertainment, the Miles family, George Wentworth Miles, O'Neil Miles and Dylan Powe, their patrons and sponsors.