“On behalf of my wife and family, I extend profound sympathy to his wife Joyce and other close family members,” Green said in a statement.

“Death is the pathway we must all tread - it leads us to eternity, and to enjoy the ultimate grace of God.

“For me, his passing is a sort of personal expurgation. Early last week, I experienced a very great urge to communicate with Mr. Hoyte. It was a dynamic spiritual feeling.

I immediately sent off sincere Christmas greetings to Desmond and Joyce. Then, with him in mind, on Friday I recorded the following as part of my weekly broadcast:

‘This Christmas, with sincerity, I have sent Christmas greetings to those who have wronged me, and done me great harm and injustice.

‘I seek forgiveness and therefore, must be able to forgive, how else can we lead our society to love and reconciliation through atonement?

‘I urge you to try this method.

‘If we all made the effort, it can transform us and take us from pain to peace,’ the excerpt read.