KD Knight demands retraction and apology from Minister Tufton over ‘manipulated’ audio

Attorneys representing retired Jamaican legislator KD Knight have accused Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton of defamation over the public playing of what they allege is a “manipulated fabrication” of Knight’s remarks about Opposition Leader Mark Golding.

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In an Aug. 13 letter sent to Tufton, the law firm Knight, Junor & Samuels claimed that on Aug. 10, an edited audio recording — purportedly of Knight speaking disparagingly about Golding — was played at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) meeting in Half Way Tree, St. Andrew, and broadcast across multiple media platforms. The firm said the excerpt gave the impression Knight had stated, “Mark Golding must never become Prime Minister of Jamaica.”

The attorneys contend that the unedited recording, later played during Tufton’s Aug. 12 appearance on Radio Jamaica’s Beyond the Headlines, reveals a different context. In the longer version, Knight allegedly discussed perceptions and political divisions stemming from the 2020 elections, not a personal declaration against Golding’s leadership.

The letter accuses Tufton of “maliciously” attacking Knight’s reputation by using the altered clip and then “doubling down” when questioned by program host Dionne Jackson Miller about the discrepancies between the two recordings.

Knight’s legal team is demanding a public retraction and apology, to be agreed upon by both parties’ attorneys, issued to all media houses, and published on JLP social media pages. They set a deadline of 11 a.m. on Aug. 15 for compliance, warning that legal action may follow if their demands are not met.

Tufton previously insisted that the recording played at the rally is authentic, saying: “The tape is 100% genuine. I understand Mr. Knight’s embarrassment at the comment he made, but his claim that it was altered is blatantly false. If he wishes to pretend he never said it, that’s on him, but the facts are clear. His words are entirely consistent with sharp criticisms he has previously made of Mark Golding in the public domain.”