Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Monday, May 28, 2007

RAE-EDZO - Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty's apology after he wrote a letter requesting a lenient sentence for a convicted sex offender has been accepted by the victim of the crime.

"The test of a good and honest person is when one is willing to apologize for a mistake," the victim told News/North. "I want to acknowledge Jackson's courage for making a public apology and say that I forgive him."

Last week, Lafferty apologized in the legislative assembly and in a separate statement to the newspaper for writing a letter on behalf of Jonas Bouvier, who was convicted of sexually assaulting the woman on several occasions where the two worked.

Lafferty said he wrote the letter out of concern for Bouvier's family, who relied on the man's financial support. Bouvier was later sentenced to five months in jail for committing the assault.

While the victim said Lafferty's letter, along with letters written by Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty, a local clergyman and nun, added to the stress of ordeal, she said the Monfwi MLA's apology gives her hope.

"I look forward to the day when more men will stand up and work towards making society a better place for women," she said.