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Santucci and Butler embroiled in Tweed row

Reverend Leonard Santucci

Bermudian Reverend Leonard Santucci has claimed that former MP Dale Butler has “de facto disqualified himself for further consideration in Parliament” following “half-statements” he made about the pastor on Facebook.

Mr Butler, the former Progressive Labour Party MP who recently announced he had applied to return to the House of Assembly, wrote about his support for London-born Reverend Nicholas Tweed in retaining his position at St Paul AME Church, adding that he did not feel that the “OBA preferred and accepted candidate Dr Santucci” should get the job.

Mr Tweed has been at the centre of controversy in recent weeks after the Bermuda Government refused his work permit renewal, with home affairs minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin saying his application was inaccurate and incomplete, and the church failed to advertise. Mr Tweed’s supporters argue she was politically motivated against him.

Dr Santucci, who insists he is happy serving where he is at Vernon Temple AME, invited Mr Butler to either elaborate on his statement or withdraw it.

He told The Royal Gazette: “Mr Butler has made a statement and I would invite him to either put meat on the bones or withdraw the statement because he is casting aspersion on my ministry and on my integrity.”

Mr Butler’s post began by saying Ms Gordon-Pamplin might have been biased in her decision to refuse the permit as she stopped attending St Paul due to Mr Tweed’s pastoring style.

He continued: “While many will say that OBA preferred and accepted candidate Dr Leonard Santucci should get the job, I do not feel so for a variety of reasons.

“The bottom line is that we want Reverend Tweed and as a church member I support his application and will do whatever is possible to have him stay. Reverend Santucci can continue to find work where he is. In other words he already has a job.”

Dr Santucci told this newspaper: “It is my contention that he [Mr Butler] de facto disqualifies himself for further consideration in Parliament.

“I do not know what his ‘variety of reasons’ are but I would welcome him to publish publicly what his reasons are as I have nothing to hide.

“I don’t consider myself perfect or sinless but whatever shortcomings I may have God already knows of them and has already forgiven me for them.

“He [Mr Butler] has my full permission to publish them — I am from Cedar Hill and where I come from you either put up or shut up and I would invite him to do the same.

“I am very happy to serve where I have been assigned. At no point has there been any question pertaining to me going to or aspiring to St Paul’s.”

Contacted by this newspaper to elaborate on his statement, Mr Butler would only say: “He [Dr Santucci] is still completing a variety of roles in his current church and he should complete them first.”

Mr Butler would not be drawn on what he meant when he wrote he would do “whatever is possible” to have him stay.

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