MEMBER of Parliament for Portland Western Daryl Vaz is to withdraw the censure motion against Opposition Leader Mark Golding which he tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

Vaz’s decision follows a walk-back of the “dead voters” comment Golding made on a political platform on Sunday.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer shortly after Golding retracted his comment during a People’s National Party (PNP) media briefing Wednesday morning, Vaz said while it was unfortunate that the Opposition leader had made the comment on a political platform it was more unfortunate that it took the threat of a censure motion for him to come to the realisation that he needed to apologise.

“Mr Golding should have actually come out from Monday morning when he woke up and realised what he had said and the implications that it had, to do the right thing as a leader and holder of a major constitutional position as leader of the opposition and just come out and withdraw and apologise. As they say, it’s better late than never. But it definitely has not come across well,” said Vaz.

“The fact that he had the opportunity to do so yesterday (Tuesday), when I raised it in Parliament and he sat there quietly and then after the motion, has come out this morning (Wednesday) bright and early to apologise, he should have done that from the beginning,” Vaz insisted.

Golding has been receiving harsh backlash since making the comment at a St Andrew East Rural party rally.

“We have fi mek sure seh every Comrade who voted fi the People’s National Party in 2011 and delivered the victory, if they’re still alive, dem haffi go vote fi Comrade Patrick Peterkin [the PNP’s candidate-elect for St Andrew East Rural] when the election call – and even some who not alive, yu know, if dem can deal wid it, no problem, because as dem seh a we name power, power party,” Golding said then.

On Tuesday Vaz sparked a small fire when he raised Golding’s dead voters comment and charged that the PNP president should accept the danger behind his remark and withdraw it.

On the motion to adjourn the sitting Vaz tabled the censure motion as he called for a committee to be established to deliberate the matter.

He insisted that Golding should withdraw the comment and apologise or face the consequences of a censure when the House resumes its sittings after the summer break. Tuesday was the last scheduled sitting before the recess.

At Wednesday morning’s press conference, Golding again sought to clarify his comments, reiterating that they were and taken out of context.

“On Sunday, at the constituency conference for East Rural St Andrew, I made some remarks which were really off the cuff and were a response to some banter in the crowd. The remarks were intended to be humorous, and were not intended to be taken seriously,” Golding said.

“I realise, however, that some people have interpreted those remarks as a serious statement of my position on the matter. That is not the case and I unreservedly withdraw and retract those remarks,” he added.

The Opposition leader said he was fully committed to Jamaica having a free and fair electoral system so that elections are conducted to the highest standard of fairness.

“I’m fully committed to the elimination of all forms of electoral malpractice and therefore I have no hesitation in withdrawing those remarks,” said Golding.