'Dudus' goes global

US, UK newspapers pick up on Golding's 'Dudus' defence

Jamaica Observer

Sunday, May 16, 2010

TWO international newspapers this weekend picked up on the Christopher 'Dudus' Coke extradition issue, and Prime Minister Bruce Golding's quandary as he faced calls for his resignation from office.

On Saturday, the Miami Herald carried a story, Jamaican leader caught in the middle of a drug war, highlighting the role of the President, Coke, and his influence which is threatening to topple the prime minister.

“Experts describe Coke as Jamaica's answer to Pablo Escobar, the late Colombian drug trafficker whose benevolence in the community afforded him absolute control – and respect,” the newspaper said, also quoting Coke's lawyer and Government senator Tom Tavares Finson who said Coke is “someone who is fair, eschews the use of violence and whose main enterprise is economic development in the inner city and the development of youth through economic activities”.

“Most experts agree that the government is unlikely to let Coke go. He knows too much,” the paper said.

In the United Kingdom today, the Telegraph carried a story, Jamaican PM accused of blocking 'drug lord' trial, which also reported on Golding's actions, and how the refusal to extradite has strained relationships between Jamaica and the United States.

“[Coke] faces life imprisonment if convicted in the US but continues to walk free in his home country,” the Telegraph said.

It continued: “Both of Jamaica's main political parties have for decades been accused of courting the support of criminal gangs because of their usefulness in getting people to vote during elections.”

The Telegraph also linked Coke to the Shower Posse, stating that “Scotland Yard has long suspected that Mr Coke, an elusive figure in Jamaica who has never been convicted of any crime, has been heavily involved in Britain’s cocaine trade.

“The so-called Yardie gangs operating in Brixton have such strong links with Mr Coke’s domain that part of the south London neighbourhood is nicknamed 'Little Tivoli' in honour of Tivoli Gardens,” the paper said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/jamaica/7730461/Jamaican-PM-accused-of-blocking-drug-lord-trial.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/15/1630392_p2/jamaican-leader-caught-in-the.html

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COMMENTS (13)

cliff J.
5/17/2010

man am very sad to see what mr golding get himself and the country into,and there no pretty up to this this is down right disgrace,to see our pm.link up to one of the world most powerful drug kingpin,and the consequence for the country will be very very bad,i dont care what anyone want to say,it reach the point now where i said,please UNCLE SAM,send in the MARINE,people world wide might think most people living in socall garrison depend on those crime lord,its not like that,but because of tug of war between both party,people cannot even cross the road ,to go to work,so they have to stay put,look on the amount of children reported missing,their parent send some of them to the country or other place to hide from these criminal,or socall don,and uncle sam whenever you come,please take,dudus,golding,portia,omar davies,peter phillip, pj patterson,,they are all affiliated with the criminal gang,

mike willy
5/17/2010

What the international papers are saying is what everybody already knows (including the Jamaican media).
Somehow everybody pretend as if it does not exists. At this stage, things comes to bump, and something is going to give. Keep your ears and eyes open

mark jones
5/17/2010

AND DARYL VAZ HAD THE AUDACITY TO BE TALKING ABOUT " DAMAGING THE COUNTRYS IMAGE" IM NOT SURE IF WE HAVE EVER RECIEVED SO MUCH NEGATIVE SIMULTANEOUS PRESS OVERSEAS AND AT THAT LEVEL TOO...............YOU ALL ARE CLUTCHING AT STRAWS THE TIDE WILL SOON CARRY YOU ALL UNDER...
IT IS CLEAR YOU ALL ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLES SENTIMENTS AND THINK THAT GOVERNMENT IS A PRIVATE CLUB..............YOU ALL ARE JUST KOTCHING AT JAMAICA HOUSE AND CAN BE EVICTED WHEN THE LANDLORD (WE THE PEOPLE) SO DECIDE!

John Small
5/17/2010

@mike daley.
What you say is true, but I think the implication of that quote from the article is even more sinister.
The Dudus request arose as a result of information gleaned from an arrested informant who was interrogated.
As the US' narcotics report said, the delay in extraditing Dudus, a "major suspected drugs and firearms trafficker with reported ties to the ruling party highlights the potential depth of corruption in the government".
If this is so, it cannot be allowed for Dudus to be turned over to a foreign country and questioned or their might be some rather shocking extradition requests to come!

gary lee
5/16/2010

All the people who are calling for the PM to resign and for Coke to be extradited want to operate without the rule of law for guidance. The evidence collected against Mr. Coke was gained illegally by the USA, and was not deemed suffiecient to warrant extradition. If the US has further evidence they should share it with Jamaican authorities to have him charged and arrested. The evidence of the telephone conversations to my knowledge was not sufficient to arrest him in Jamaica.
Mr. Golding has already said if further evidence is forthcoming then he would extradite Coke.
All those people demanding extradition and resignation must bring forth the evidence, and not hearsay.

Fitz Osbourne
5/16/2010

As a people and a nation we are finally facing the consequences of that which we have tolerated and allowed to take control of our society, our lives and our youth. We have given our political parties and process free reign to represent us as they see fit and out of that have grown the likes of this incident and the current uncontrollable gang and criminal activities. Could we be as much to blame for this as Bruce, the JLP and Mr. Coke? This is the current result of our passive tolerance for that which is wrong, unjust and evil.

mike daley
5/16/2010

@ John Small! Unsubstantiated statements like "most experts agree that the government is unlikely to let Coke go. He knows too much" is the type of argument that see us going no where fast in terms of change. I know technology and the Internet as open up JA to the world and vice versa, but many JAans, politicians not excepted still live and think in a vaccum (bottle). Therefore, what is perceived as important to JAcan (politicians) is really insignificant to the world. So what if Coke's connections is wide and deep in important areas of the JA society? That is of little consequence or concern to the US unless that unhealthy relationship directly affects US interests in a significant way monetarily and geo-politically. JAcan politicians up to the PM need to grow up and get a little more sophisticated in both their thoughts and actions. Giving up Coke as greater benefit than not. You can lock down Tivoli due to violence but JA cannot afford to be locked out of global growth.

John Small
5/16/2010

“Most experts agree that the government is unlikely to let Coke go. He knows too much”
The above is key.
The tenacles of our crime monster have reached out to other countries where gangs also operate.
That's why they care, not because we are so special.
When other countries start caring more we might not like the result.
Jamaicans already can't go anywhere anymore without a visa.
In the future, external forces could come to bear more heavily on Jamaica's affairs.
In my opinion, wi nuh finish reap di whirlwind yet.

Antonette W.
5/16/2010

According to the latest news, Mr. Samuda contends that it was not the Prime Minister who contracted for the American legal team to represent Dudus. Rather, it was solely the JLP. If that is the case, then things are getting more curious by the minute. What justification can they possibly as to why a political party wants to assume the role of protector when someone is being extradited? What is the JLP's interest in this matter?

God Bless
5/16/2010

Dudus turn super star LOL!!! I need your auotgraph mr president.

Alloy T
5/16/2010

Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley and Usain Bolt are among several Jamaicans who sell the Jamaican name globally in a manner that make all Jamaican (home and abroad) proud. It is sad that the present PM (Bruce Golding) has down (and still doing) all in his power to destroy rather than to build our reputation globally.

Nah Lef Yah
5/16/2010

So what? Everything in Jamaica goes global. Jamaica always make interesting news. Jamaica isn't a sleepy and boring place.

A. Croft
5/16/2010

"Slide mongoose
yo naime gone abraad"
Jamaica should not tolerate this.

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'Dudus' goes global