The tweets which he told Nationwide News’ Cliff Hughes, were not made by him, prompted a phone call between himself and Foreign Affairs Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith after a public outcry condemning the US Ambassador for his disrespect to the Jamaican people and government.

Speaking on Cliff Hughes online, Tapia said: “I can only tell you that eh, to the people that was involved in the twitter…. I have to apologise to them, to say that they should not,  eh,…the way that I react, I’ve always said that, yu know I’m here as your guest, and guest don’t talk or act in that, in that manner. I stand by that today as I did the day that I arrived here,” Tapia insisted.

Tapia told Hughes that although he did not make those tweets, however, he took full responsibility for them and the person who brought him into disrepute as a diplomat “will be leaving shortly as he will be rotated out of the embassy..”

Johnson-Smith, in a Twitter post yesterday, said she spoke with Tapia, who acknowledged that the engagement was not appropriate.

“I am aware of certain inappropriate tweets made from the twitter account of the US Ambassador which have been deleted. I have spoken with the Ambassador and he is aware that the engagement was not appropriate for a diplomatic representative. He assured me that it will not recur,” Johnson-Smith said.

I am aware of certain inappropriate tweets made from the twitter account of the US Ambassador which have been deleted. I have spoken with the Ambassador and he is aware that the engagement was not appropriate for a diplomatic representative. He assured me that it will not recur.

— Hon. Kamina J Smith (@kaminajsmith) October 29, 2020