KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding has threatened to take legal action against Heroy Clarke, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, for comments he allegedly made about Golding’s relationship with his wife, Sandra.

The comments were reportedly made in a WhatsApp group of approximately 300 contacts.

In a letter addressed to Clarke on Friday, Golding through his attorneys demanded an apology highlighting that the comments made by Clarke could suggest the Opposition leader committed a criminal offence. Golding’s attorney says Clarke’s statements have disparaged Golding’s “character and reputation” and has brought him into “public scandal, odium and contempt.”

“Your statements have disparaged Mr Golding in his character and reputation as leader of the Opposition, a former minister in the Government of Jamaica, an attorney-at-law, investment banker, and as a businessman, and have severely injured and damaged him in his credit and business, and have brought him into public scandal, odium, and contempt, thereby causing considerable distress and embarrassment to him,” the letter said.

As such, Golding’s attorneys have requested that Clarke provide a “full and unreserved written apology to Golding in a newspaper of islandwide circulation in Jamaica, in form and substance and with prominence acceptable to the People’s National Party president.”

The letter also indicated that Clarke, the Member of Parliament for St James Central, must also agree to enter into discussions with Golding’s attorneys as to the terms of a settlement of the claim against him for damages for defamation. Failure to follow through on the demands outlined in the letter, will result in the matter possibly being brought before the court.