THE National Democratic Movement (NDM) is warning the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) that circling the wagons around their embattled leader Prime Minister Bruce Golding instead of standing up for the interest of the nation, is a retrograde step.

In a release to the media today the NDM condemned the announcement yesterday by 13 JLP senators that they stand solidly behind Golding and endorse his ‘forthrightness’ in admitting that he sanctioned the move to hire United States law firm Manatt Phelps and Phillips to lobby the US government on the contentious extradition matter involving Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

“The NDM is reminding the JLP leadership and parliamentarians that the actions of the Prime Minister have already brought the people and government of Jamaica into disrepute and that it is now perceived in the eyes of the local and international community that his recent actions was more to defend and protect an alleged gang leader and JLP “donman”/”strongman”/king-pin rather than any defense of human rights,” the release stated.

The party said the senators and other members of the party top brass were well aware of the engagement of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips to negotiate for the possible withdrawal of extradition proceedings against Coke.

“The NDM would like to know what role this alleged gangster plays in the party for him to warrant an expenditure of approximately $36 million. The JLP should tell the nation where the first almost $5 million came from to pay the overseas law firm, and who has committed to underwrite the balance of approximately $US350,000,” the release said.

The NDM maintained its call for Golding to step down in order to save the country’s international reputation which it said was being ‘besmirched’.