Don't sacrifice Jamaica for 'Dudus', lawyer warns

BY KARYL WALKER Crime/Court Co-ordinator walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

UNITED States-based attorney Professor David Rowe, yesterday warned the Jamaica Labour Party Government to be careful not to put the fate of an entire nation on the 'fortunes' of one individual.

Rowe's warning comes a day after Washington lashed Kingston for its failure to extradite Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to face drug trafficking charges in the US, and questioned Jamaica's commitment to law enforcement co-operation.

"The fate of one person will jeopardise the bi-lateral relationship. Jamaica wants to be a part of the international community; Jamaica does not want to be some backwater where we are subject to the whims and fancies of drug dealers," Rowe, a Jamaican, told the Observer.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, speaking in Parliament yesterday, hinted that his Government was not keen on signing the extradition order as evidence collected against Coke bordered on illegal.

But Rowe said Golding's stance could have dire consequences for the nation's security and economy.

"Jamaica's income comes from the overseas community and tourism. The US relationship is vital to the Jamaican economy. It is of great importance that the Government be careful about how it responds to an extradition request of that nature," Rowe said.

Rowe was also critical of the JLP Government's unwillingness to arrest Coke and allow the matter to be heard by a local judge as has been the practice in the past.

"Why hasn't that individual been arrested and face the courts? Why are we trying to subvert the process?" Rowe asked. "This country ought to observe its obligation under the extradition treaty and in doing so we would preserve the bi-lateral process and not create a crisis which is what we are now doing," said Rowe.

At the same time, he called for the resignations of Attorney General and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne, as well as Senator Tom Tavares-Finson.

Finson, he said, was burdened by a conflict of interest as he is Coke's attorney and also a Government member of the Senate.

He said that Lightbourne, who has the responsibility of signing extradition requests, should do the honourable thing and resign because of her failure to give the go-ahead for Coke to face charges in the US.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Opposition People's National Party, Robert Pickersgill, accused Golding of being indecisive on the Dudus extradition request.

"He (Golding) talks beautifully around the subject," Pickersgill told the Observer.

The US State Department has accused Coke of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine, as well as conspiracy to illegally traffic firearms.

The United States, last August, asked Jamaica to arrest

Coke and extradite him to the Southern District of New York to answer to the alleged charges.

(Click here to see the US State Department's report on Jamaica)

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COMMENTS (12)

stuart wilson
5/25/2010

dudus..is a mordern ..robinhood?!!..giving to the poor .in tivoli....but!!what kind of ..robinhood stands behind .women and children!!..if he loved his people....hide behind his puppet goverment and deal with it ..like that!!stop the ..bloodshed ..if he loves them...!!!!

5/19/2010

Dodus is innocent until prove guilt. Let justice prevail. Turn him over and let him be tried like every one else. The Jamaican Government is in Pocket, or maybe they (the gov) are afraid of what his foolish flowers will do. JAMAICAN WILL OVERCOME. This just in …Bruce has an injury, a back injury oh sorry he does not have a back bone, and his spine has been removed. JELLYFISH BRUC. If the man is found guilty PUNSIH him and all is cohort. The Jamaica people including myself are bigger than one man. My people, my black heroes has put their lives on the line, some making the ultimate sacrifice so we can have a better life. Who the hell is Dodus for the Gov. to hold us hostage because of one man? The Jamaican Gov. should let my people go and stop holding Jamaica us hostage for Dodus or for any one for that matter. How many life and opportunities will Jellyfish Bruce stiff ell because of Dodus. Br Numsey

Grace Brown
4/28/2010

I have been listening and reading all the news and the press surrounding this dilemma. Jamaicans in general has become num to the fact that there is a right and wrong. This dudus character and all the dons, drug lords and criminal elements in jamaica needs to be dealt with and gotten rid. Jamaica is not safe anymore. The people of Jamaica are imprisoned in their own homes and in their own minds at this point. I believe that the Jamaican government knows about this dudus dealing and is okay with it. They are also afraid of what this dudus characters followers will do. I am in complete agreement with what this Rowe character has to say about this issue. Jamaica needs to hand over this dudus person and let justice prevail. I am fearful for the residents of jamaica because the fear that they live in is not healthy at all. Furthermore the crime and violence in Jamaica needs to stop so that the country can attract some foreign business and generate jobs for the Jamaican people.

Lori Reid
3/29/2010

The truth hurts but people must hear it. People complain about the crime and murders going on in jamaica, yet people are will to habour a drug dealer and killer. That makes Jamaica look like a country of hypocracy. Like it or not. They wouldn't like someone coming to their yard and messing up the communities with drugs and violence so what the heck make people think its ok for this guy to go foreign and mess up other people yard? Drugs and violence destroys communites. When you break the law you no longer have rights. The governemnt of Jamaica needs to grow some testicular fortitude and get radical with these gang bangers, murderers and drug dealers. Its because of people like that why youths are getting killed, Its people like that why communities are destroyed. I love jamaica but it has become a country full of ignorance, stupidity and people have surely lost their moral values. Let the US deal with this community destroyer. It would be one less problem taken off the streets of Jamaica. When its your child strung out on drugs, or your child or family member killed people will get it. But some are so focused on what they are getting from this man that they could care less about who he destroys. People can chat all they want about the US but when someone is killed families can sleep at night knowing that justice has prevailed, In JA how many families are still not sleeping because their relative or friends murderer is still walking the street, being allowed destroy the country. Think about it, Serve your country, don't destroy it and if Golding doen't hand Dudus over, he just spit in the face of the families who this man has destroyed. They also will be going against everything they claim to stand for. You say stop the violence, well get people like Dudus off the streets. This is the governments opportunity to show they are FOR REAL!

Verna Kitson
3/3/2010

Who is this David Rowe person? And why does this newspaper think his singular opinion is so important that it publishes two separate articles in the same issue reporting what was said in a single conversation?

george watson
3/3/2010

Mr. Golding is on the horns of a dilemma and in either case the writing is on the wall, as far as his political future is concerned. If Dudus goes, then he can no longer represent Tivoli as its MP. If he does not go then the best thing to happen to him is that the U.S government will ignore him and his government completely. At the other end of the spectrum we can get ready to hear the U.S. Government accuse him of all kinds of crime against humanity. In any event it will not be pretty for our country. Just goes to show what will happen to us when we want something as badly as he did. I think Mr. Golding has taken what he thinks is the lesser of two evils. Only time will tell.

Ms. Lee B.
3/3/2010

I sincerely hope that if any other Jamaican were accused of the crimes put forth by the U.S. the Bruce Golding Administration would be just as vigilant in protecting their "rights."
Almost one year and the "investigations" continue.

raphael jones
3/3/2010

MR. GOLDING NEEDS TO WAKE UP!!

Hope Alive
3/3/2010

Let the court decides!

mike willy
3/3/2010

Mr Golding political image is tarnished in the international community and I think he has read the writing on the wall.

JA Cynic
3/3/2010

We contend that the real issue is not the implications surrouding the extradition of Coke, as serious as that may be; but the devastating consequences for the JLP Govt. should telephone intercepts be accepted as a basis not only for extradition requests, but for legal action(generally) in any court of law-local or foreign.
Can you imagine the potential devastation of recordings of conversations between "prominent" persons and known criminal elements of the transnational organised criminal network? It would be off the richter scale--a political earthquake triggering a tsunami of resignations (and arrests).
The US seems to know something about "us" and Dudus.
JA Cynic

Jay Brown
3/3/2010

This guy goes around pretending he is Mr Know it All. Why doesn't he seek the extradition of Cash+ boss who ripped him off of millions of USA dollars.
This guys was the same one who was being critical and the banks etc for try to "stiffle" the UFO's in their heyday.
This is the guy who wrote about the big Drax Hall development slated to be done by Carlos Hill shortly after its purchase.
This is the same guy who said leave CashPlus alone.
The advise of the professor resulted in thousands of Jamaicans losing billions of dollars particularly in the case of Cash Plus as his ringing endorsement in another newspaper lead other to join the scam.
Can we really therefore trust his judgeship.??

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Don't sacrifice Jamaica for 'Dudus', lawyer warns