Robinson: I had no meeting with State Dept officials

Thursday, April 29, 2010

JUNIOR Foreign Minister Dr Ronald Robinson yesterday denied that he met with US State Department officials and representatives of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips as stated in yesterday's Observer lead story.

Robinson told the Observer that he never met with anyone from the State Department and that his encounter with a representative from the law firm was brief, as described by Jamaica Labour Party General Secretary Karl Samuda in his statement on the issue Tuesday.

"As regards media reports that a minister of Government met with State officials and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Dr Ronald Robinson, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, while on a visit to Washington on November 20, 2009, had a brief social encounter with a representative of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips after having declined an invitation by Mr Harold Brady to attend a meeting at the State Department," Samuda said in his statement.

Yesterday, Robinson explained that his encounter with the Manatt representative was over drinks and lasted for about half-an-hour.

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (20)

Patrick junior
4/29/2010

All parties in this dudus 'Presidential Affair'. A GRAND JURY IS IMPANALLED IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK to probe matters relating to above affair, be ye warned of what thou do and say. If a request is made for anyone involved, they will have to appear. Make sure all your ducks are in a row.

Keith Baker
4/29/2010

Who is Presi's ambassador to Washington? Will Mr Coke please clarify?

Wilfred Gray
4/29/2010

fearful cannot think..those who are focussed on equal rights and justice, must be wise to fear God,think clearly, get it right, when u see the light...

Omar Kenyata
4/29/2010

Paul you are so right! Glaze Buck up Brady, and M&P, Robinson Buck up Brady and MP&P. Jamaica people ano ediat !!!!! The more they come up with these fantastic stories the more them look like clowns because NOBODY believes them! Problem is though that come 2012 any weh wi go macka juk wi ! I think we need a Flight Lieutenant Gerry Rawlins solution fo about ten years and then get back to "democracy" Weh unu seh ?

owen swaby
4/29/2010

Why can't we all understand that an "encounter" is NOT a meeting? Do you all have Dr. attached to your name? Only Drs. know that an encounter is not a meeting even though the encounter lasted for half an hour!!! Oh what fools they take us for!!

D Ranks
4/29/2010

We should not call this sorrid whatever it is, a circus. It is definately not. I went to a circus many years ago, and while it may seem disorganised, it is not. Actually, circuses are very organised shows. They achieve their aims, that is deception, fun rides, clowns, orther events, satisfied customers and in most cases profits. What is happening with the Brady-Manatt whatever it is, is nothing like that, it not even a comedy of errors. I suspect that it is a willful undertaking to decieve the Jamaican public in order to protect one man, and that is not even working because the players are not even coordinated enought to get their stories right. Look at Dr Robinson, he is denying what Samuda said yesterday, "coffession" the newspapers call it. What do they call it now?
It does not even qualify as a joke. Incompetence? I leave you to it.

Nina Nais
4/29/2010

Come on, people. Be fair. He didn't say he just happened to "buck up" with an MPP rep.
The account is that Brady invited him to go to a meeting with State Dept officials, presumably with MPP reps present. He declined, but then went to have drinks with an MPP rep. In my experience of doing business overseas, going for drinks with someone trying to sell a legal / consultancy service to you is not unusual. Usually the person trying to sell the service is willing to pay for drinks or even a restaurant meal. In a wide sense, it can be seen as general networking, or specifically, it could be that MPP was still trying to make a pitch as to why the govt should employ them.

Andrea Watson
4/29/2010

The JLP came into power all loaded into the "integrity" bus driven by the competent Driva, what a difference two and a half years make. Advice Mr Robinson, if one speaks the truth he/she does not need to have a good memory.

Paul Lewis
4/29/2010

Is this another " Spy " Robinson... I hope not since the other one was shrouded in mystery and has become legend. Isn't it remarkable how everytime someone from this Gov't goes to the U.S.... they " buck up " somebody from M.P.& P...this Law Firm must have people staking out the Airports ?. LOL

Jaye Stone
4/29/2010

First paragraph denies the Minister met with State Dept officials AND any Manatt rep, while second paragraph claims he met with a Manatt rep, albeit briefly. Okay, so he DID meet with a Manatt rep.
These guys must think we're real troglodytes.

Chuck Emanuel
4/29/2010

What interest does Mr Robinson in his capacity as "Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Minister", has with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips ?.
What was it ?. Did he just met someone and needed a drink ?.
Jamaica must be purged of these licky licky people masquerading as intellectual professionals acting against the interest of the country.

Jay Brown
4/29/2010

Kensignton the deputy, Baught tickets and went overseas. While there he spoke with a Man in a hat as well as one of US Arranging, for a treat for a special person.
He Stated that his Department would like to discuss how this treat could be held, as it was important the person for whom the treat was being held to remain so he could attend.
The treat was eventually cancel after close to 50,000 tickets were sold at a $1.00 each, as now other had found out about the planned treat and it was causing a major problem.

josh davis
4/29/2010

Stop digging the hole,stop digging the hole,stop digging the hole. I heard that an influential wall street news paper is to issue a full-scale revelation on this issue very very soon .Is money laundering still illegal in Jamaica ?
Is money laundering illegal in the usa ?

JA Cynic
4/29/2010

Who arranged that "brief social encounter"?
What was discussed during that half-an- hour?
Who were the persons present at that encounter?
Having declined an invitation by Brady to attend a meeting at the State Department, why did the Juniour Minister participate in an encounter over drinks with some of the persons who would have been involved in the said meeting?
Did the Junior Minister receive any report as to the progress being made by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips as a member of the JLP?
JA Cynic

Beresford Davidson
4/29/2010

Unnoo too faase! Cum outa de people dem bidness! When yu get into politics you must meet powerful people all over the world and talk the talk and walk the walk. A Jamaica business the brother was doing!

Carl Hutchinson
4/29/2010

You just admit to meeting with them brother. 1 hour is a long time to have a meetiing. Tell us what you talked about, that should be more interesting. The caption doesn't match the story Dr. Rob.

Paul Gentles
4/29/2010

Mr Robinson,your title "Jr." minister suggests why you were placed in this predicament - Ok, if you were the one there as said,you are but a Jr.minister it stands to reason you were sent by a Sr. minister.
I wonder who that is?hmm
Are you a fall guy type or defend your character type? If not fall guy we are listening for a more robust response.
Whilst you are at it be careful of all these "coincidences" you guys are having....meeting on plane,meeting over drinks etc you just might "meet" in a jail cell.

4/29/2010

Yes I yah.
Who is telling the truth.
This guy say he just happen to "buck up inna" a representative at Mannatt and just conveniently went for drinks.
Most of us will only do that when we are well acquainted with an individual.
In most cases we make arrangements to speak to each other over drinks - this is perfectly in order.
So for the Dr to tell us otherwise and expect us to believe it, means he " tek people fi ediat".
Dr Robinson what was the purpose of that trip.?
Was it coincidental that HB was on that same AA flight to Washington DC ?

Owen Chong
4/29/2010

Horald Brady is now "UNTOUCHABLE". Ronald Robinson you are now "OFFOCIALLY" the new FALL guy.

clem clarke
4/29/2010

Tell us everything --fast! All this delay ,deny and dismiss won't work. Things a come up to bump. C'mon man talk the things dem . A whole nation is waiting to hear from u guys. My patience is wearing thin. Now u guys have me curious.? A wey Dudus get so much power from. The Yankee dollar? Money make for some strange bed-fellows.Come inna the place voluntary Dudus it not so cold up herte this time of year. Rope [in] een. 'cause no guy can't tesrt

Did you watch American football's Super Bowl on Sunday?
	Yes, but just for the advertisements
	Yes, just for the game itself
	Yes, for both the game and advertisements
	No, I did not watch the Super Bowl.

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

ANANDA ALERT! Four girls missing

Robinson: I had no meeting with State Dept officials