FOUNDER of political movement the New Nation Coalition (NNC), Betty Ann Blaine, has moved to clarify reports that her party has issued an invitation to ousted Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senators Dr Christopher Tufton and Arthur Williams to join its ranks.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer yesterday, Blaine said the invite — issued via a public statement late Tuesday — was specifically for the men to join a ‘Clean Hands’ Coalition which is intended to be a group of competent patriots who are prepared to put country first and to work for the transformation of Jamaica.

“We just want to clarify that when we speak about joining a “Clean Hands Coalition”, we are talking about individuals and groups of persons who may want to form a powerful coalition.We are not saying come and join New Nation, we are saying it is time for a powerful coalition of individuals,” she explained.

“You have somebody like a Dr Tufton with so much potential, so much to offer this country, competent; we have never heard of any integrity issues. Why should somebody like that languish politically? I just want to say to him and others, there is another way and I think Jamaica is ready for this,” Blaine told the Observer.

In admitting that the “invitation” had not been communicated to either man “formally”, she said New Nation thought it “was important to let them know publicly that there certainly is an invitation”.

In the meantime, she said the invite was not only to the two but “for anybody else in either of the two main political parties who see a different way, who understand the importance of transparency and truth and putting an end to corruption”.

In its statement Tuesday, NNC said the invitation to the men was “in light of the unceremonious, underhanded and arguably unconstitutional manner in which the JLP members have been put out of the Senate by the leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness”.

“We need a “Clean Hands Coalition” and we need it now!” Blaine emphasised.

“It seems very clear that either of the two main political parties has no intention of doing the right thing or of regenerating themselves.The most recent cases of Richard Azan’s reinstatement by the prime minister of Jamaica and Andrew Holness’s ousting of senators are glaring confirmations that what we have is the same old-style politics, of cronyism, corruption, divisiveness and a general disregard for good governance,” she contended.

She said “New Nation is of the view that the only way for Jamaica to move forward is for those persons committed to change and competent to serve, come together to form a powerful coalition, free of political tribalism and one which will put country before friends and politics”.

Calls to both Tufton and Williams by the Observer went unanswered. A message left for Dr Tufton was not responded to.