Apologies welcome, but ...

We welcome the apologies tendered in the House on Tuesday by the party leaders and those MPs who were engaged in that nasty verbal bust-up just over a week ago that appeared headed to a physical brawl. But we expected more.

For instance, Mr J.C. Hutchinson did not retract his reference to government member Raymond Pryce as a "fish", which we believe was used in the context of the Jamaican pejorative for homosexual. That he did not retract or apologise for the term means that Mr Hutchinson maintains that was not his intention. And that we believe to be prevarication.

Mr Everald Warmington disclosed that he had spoken privately to the marshal of the House, Mr Kevin Williams, in whose face he had wagged a finger and against whom he had let loose a torrent of abuse. That apology should have been also in the open chamber.

We sense that Mr Pryce said more than the literal meaning his words conveyed. We expect that he will clarify his remarks in due course.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness pledged that the behaviour that offended so many would not recur during their watch. They should know that we will hold them to account.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.