KINGSTON, Jamaica – Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke said Tuesday that he would not apologise for calling Opposition Leader Mark Golding ‘Massa Mark’ during his closing Budget presentation on March 21.

This is despite the fact that he has been raked over the coals in newspaper editorials, public commentary and on social media for using a term many Jamaicans deem to be racist.

READ: ‘Massa Mark’ reference by Clarke triggers Opposition walkout of Budget Debate

In a 15-minute long statement at the start of Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives to explain himself, Clarke even stated that he appreciated the fact that Golding had apologised for referring to Jamaica Labour Party supporters as “damn fools” at a People’s National Party (PNP) meeting which Clarke said triggered his reference to Golding as Massa Mark. Clarke claimed he did so in a lighthearted manner.

He was at pains to point out that he did not regard his use of Massa Mark as racist. He highlighted that the words ‘massa’ and ‘bacra massa have long been used in Jamaican proverbs, numerous writings, including editorials and by members of the Opposition to depict power and not race.

Clarke acknowledged that there was a time when the words were racist but he pointed out that previously enslaved people have from time to time expropriated words once deemed derogatory for their own use and empowerment.

Clarke stressed that despite their political differences, he and Golding enjoy good relations both inside and outside the Parliament, so too their wives.

“Some of the interpretations I’ve seen and listened to are inconsistent with that reality,” he argued.

“The reasons are, speaking my truth, is that my remarks have been misconstrued, my motives have been misrepresented, and my intentions have been distorted.

“I regret that some persons may have viewed my remarks as racially motivated. To again be clear, that was never my intention,” Clarke remarked.

But, he would not apologise.

According to him, “To apologise however, would be to legitimise what simply is not true. The truth is that ‘massa’, in in its modern usage, is applied non-racially. Massa Mark, as I used it was not about race…it was not about colour”.

The finance minister remarked that ‘massa’ is always about an attitude and style regarding power.

“And that is how I used the term to describe what I saw as disrespectful attitude and language”.

At one stage the Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell rose on a point of order, declaring that Clarke was abusing the process as he was not allowed to debate a matter of controversy which Paulwell insisted he was doing. Paulwell rose after Clarke described the PNP’s treatment of the matter as creating a “hullabaloo”.

When he resumed his speech and repeated the word he was told by House Speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert to desist.