By Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter 
Ronald Thwaites (right) with Prime Minister Patterson in happier times. - File
RONALD THWAITES, attorney-at-law, Roman Catholic deacon and talk show host who has been at the centre of controversy over allegations of financial impropriety, resigned yesterday as Member of Parliament for Central Kingston.
But he told The Gleaner that he would be taking steps to clear his name.
In his letter to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, president of the People's National Party, Mr. Thwaites denied the allegations of dishonesty which, he said, had been made without any reference to him for comment before damaging publication.
"The malicious and callous charges make it impossible for me to perform public duties," he said.
Mr. Thwaites found himself in deep controversy after political pollster Mark Wignall wrote in a column in The Observer newspaper last week, that a senior PNP official had fraudulently converted $5 million collected by his law firm on behalf of the postal services, and that he received substantial payments from the failed housing project, Low Income Family Foundation, and that he used property belonging to the Roman Catholic Church to secure a personal loan.
Although he was not named in the column, Mr. Thwaites went on Nationwide news programme on Power 106 on Thursday to defend himself "because the circumstances and events are some of those with which I'm connected."
In accepting his resignation yesterday, Mr. Patterson said he did so with regret.
"Your contribution to the development of the constituency since your election in 1997 has been greatly admired by your constituents, the party leadership and by me personally. Your timely interventions and excellent contribution in the House of Parliament have been meaningful and impressive..."
Mr. Patterson said the party leadership recognised the financial problems which had confronted Mr. Thwaites and his persistent efforts to deal with them. He said he wished Mr. Thwaites well in his endeavour to devote his full attention to efforts to restore his finances and rebuild his legal practice and business interests.
Mr. Thwaites said that as a result of the continuing accusations about matters relating to his private business and in order to minimise the dislocation and discomfort for his family, Church, friends and constituents, "I have taken the decision to resign as Member of Parliament for Central Kingston".
He went on: "I have not arrived at this decision lightly. I took my role as parliamentarian with utmost seriousness and have done my best. I have tried to work very hard for my constituents and my party and I have given as much as possible."
He said he remained committed to the people of the constituency and the ideals and principles of the PNP and he thanked Mr. Patterson for affording him the opportunity to serve the people of Central Kingston.
Mr. Thwaites asked the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston for leave of absence as Deacon, for the time being.
His resignation came five days after the allegations forced the PNP president to set up a three-man commission to investigate them. The commission which was made up of Robert Pickersgill, party chairman, Maxine Henry-Wilson, general secretary, and A. J. Nicholson, Q.C., the Attorney General A. J. Nicholson, met with Mr. Thwaites on Thursday.
Contacted by The Gleaner yesterday evening, Mr. Thwaites, 57, said, "It is very painful for me, you know. I didn't get the support that I thought I had. I wasn't asked (to resign), so I did. And I felt that the battering you know ... and the complete misrepresentation and everything... It's time to go to another forum now."
He said his constituents were distressed. (In the December 1977 election he polled 6,907 votes to 4,643 for his nearest rival, Christine Davis of the JLP).
Asked how he was feeling about the situation, Mr. Thwaites said, "I have taken a decision and I am obviously going to live with it. But it's a very painful moment."
His said he thanked his sons - two of whom who were with him at the time of the interview - for their support. His eldest son, Daniel, who is overseas, is also supporting him from abroad, he said.
Mr. Thwaites said he would be taking steps to clear his name.
