Dear Sir,

I caught some of Opposition Leader Marc Bean’s interview on the Sherri J radio show, during which he said of the Finance Minister’s defamation lawsuit against Bermuda Public Service Union head Jason Hayward: “Just drop it.”

Having read something about this lawsuit, I believe the Minister of Finance [Bob Richards] would drop the case if Mr Hayward would apologise for calling Bermuda’s Finance Minister “corrupt”.

Until Mr Hayward does this, I’m sure the suit will go ahead because you cannot have a community leader on a public broadcast calling the Finance Minister of Bermuda “corrupt”.

Now, if Mr Hayward has proof of corruption, he should bring it forward and the court case is the perfect venue to present his facts.

Otherwise, he should swallow his pride and apologise. If he does that, I am sure the Finance Minister will drop the case.

If that happens, if Mr Hayward apologises, then this situation can become a teaching moment for Bermuda. In saying that, I mean it can become an opportunity to demonstrate responsible leadership and to steer politicians and their followers away from the extreme and reckless language that is eroding the connections Bermudians need to build a strong future.

At the end of the day, unless Mr Hayward has proof of corruption, this stand-off is about pride — one of the seven deadly sins. If Mr Hayward has no proof, then he should do the honourable thing and apologise.

Who knows, it could be just the sort of thing that people will admire him for doing.

JUST SAYIN’