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Seaga goes for Golding's jugular

Lashes Matalon, MacMillan, Blair

Sunday, May 30, 2010

APPEARING at his most impassioned since 2005 when he stepped away from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) he had led for 31 years, Edward Seaga came out swinging last Thursday night, as security forces tightened their control over Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston.

Seaga, in a comprehensive interview with CVM Television, went for Prime Minister Bruce Golding's jugular, blaming him for the flare up and all but calling for his resignation.

In the lengthy CVM interview, the former prime minister also lashed several Jamaicans, including Joseph Matalon, the head of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Col Trevor MacMillan, the former police commissioner and Bishop Herro Blair, the political ombudsman.

Seaga took issue with the killing of residents of Tivoli, saying that the people who had arms had left the community. "And they are gone because they got a signal from what was said before, knowing that there was going to be this type of operation. So why are you continuing? Why you shooting people?"

"You must remember that the member of parliament is also the prime minister and he is the one who makes the decision.... He can make the decision to stop it. Why is he not doing so? But I can only tell you that since he has become PM he has neglected the area. And I'm not talking about Tivoli Gardens, the entire West Kingston. Neglected it. Because that is not his understanding of how an MP should operate.

"According to the philosophy of the NDM (National Democratic Movement), which he founded and left, an MP supposed to go to parliament and talk about national and international affairs. You've heard that. And the constituency must run itself. Now this constituency was left to run itself. And on that basis, fell into the hands of stronger and stronger gang activities that was providing assistance to them, which they had to appreciate because there's nobody else that's helping them. You don't run a constituency like that, not this type of constituency."

Seaga said Golding needed to be in that constituency on a regular basis. That's what he did and that's what the people were accustomed to, and if Golding could not do it, "he must leave it".

"I told him from the beginning that this constituency does not suit you. But he was determined to go there because the very same people he is trying to catch now are the ones who told him to come. They want him there because the prime minister should occupy that seat. It has been occupied by three prime ministers in a row. And so they wanted him there for that purpose. He should have gone to Spanish Town, which he represented before, and let Olivia 'Babsy' Grange come there.... because she is a caring person," Seaga insisted.

Golding held the Central St Catherine constituency until he was ousted by Grange in 1997 when he contested it for the NDM. When Seaga stood down as Opposition Leader and MP, following a bruising internal party fight in 2005, Golding took over West Kingston, winning it in the 2007 general elections. "If he plans to stay on as prime minister, he should find another seat. Other than that, he may have to consider resigning," Seaga told his CVM interviewer.

Referring to what he said was a statement by Matalon on the security forces operation, Seaga said what was happening in Tivoli was now bringing out the problem of this country, "the coalition of the classes against the masses".

"It doesn't matter how many poor people died down there. Plenty of them are there to replace them, so if you want to kill off a few, it no matter, it is worth it, that's what Mr Matalon said. It is worth it. Worth it to do what? He has enough sense to understand how to read the situation. How can he be talking about gunmen in a battle and you don't have any guns. Where are the guns? Ask yourself that question (and) you realise something is wrong. Businessmen they don't stop to do that. They only want to know you killing off people down in that area, and when you do, that you must be curbing crime."

Seaga's comment was pointing to the low official count for guns recovered by the security forces -- four up to the time he was speaking -- against the high body count, 44 at that time, which he claimed was more than 100 bodies.

Asked about his own role while he was MP for Tivoli Gardens, Seaga declared that he was the only "higher authority in the history of this country" who had given the police a list of persons who were conducting criminal activities in there, including murder and that the list was headed by Christopher 'Dudus' Coke himself.

Seaga had handed Commissioner MacMillan a list with 13 names of Tivoli residents whom, it was said, he could not control, at a time when criminal elements were taking hold of the area.

"I offered a $25,000 reward to find his whereabouts. And what did the police do with that list? MacMillan the commissioner said it was on a piece of dirty paper. It may have been. But that was just the start."

Later in the interview, Seaga said of MacMillan: "I don't know what he has ever cleaned up in his life, I must tell you the truth. Because he certainly is a failure here. If he had attended to what I gave him by way of a starter and we were able to continue that discussion so that they could know who should be on their list to watch, some of this would have been cleaned up long ago. But he never did."

Commenting on Bishop Blair's visit to Tivoli Gardens on the invitation of Prime Minister Golding, Seaga was equally caustic: "I am disappointed in him... Not using any analytical experiences he had from the previous incident in 2001. You don't just go there and hand poor people food and say 'okay sit down here until the next package come'. They want to get out. That's what you must call for. They want to be free. They want to be citizens with their rights. It's not a package of food they want. I am disappointed in him...That'a foolish approach."

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COMMENTS (27)

Stephen Gunter
5/30/2010

People are intent on attacking the man and not paying attention to the substance of what he said.
Why did the Commissioner of Police ignore the list of 13 given to him by the MP of the area? If said Commissioner had gone after the men on that list then, much of what has recently happened would have been avoided altogether.
And, in all of this, the most salient point: the current Prime Minister is not fit for leadership. Dance around it all you want, the fact remains.

Elli Deedo
5/30/2010

On my last visit Home; I saw a Old Lady who know's Mr Golding and his Family from he was a Child ; she Told me In Spanish Town after church was dismiss, she said she pray for poor little Bruce in that bad place where he is gone, but the lord will help him. Now Mr Seaga is saying actually the same; he must leave there. BABSY Grange is the fittest to go there, as we the people of St Catherine said. He is not belonging there. He is loved and respected in St Catherine. Not in kingston.

Chris Benji
5/30/2010

One Don was not just a reference to leadership of the JLP. Mr Seaga created a level of dependency in Tivoli where the people were supposed to look to him for everything. He in is personal capacity and as MP. He did not encourage the states involvement in the community. Now that the community members have chosen another Don who has continued what he started it is rather rich of him to now come in and cast blame on everyone else but himself. Mr Seaga you are not blameless this was your doing yours

Elli Deedo
5/30/2010

A few things Mr Seaga suggested here, I will support, because even though I'am not in Jamaica, I can endorse a few as Facts. Such as Golding should never be in TIVOLI. He belong's to St Catherine, and I was wondering how he end's up in Tivoli. I've also asked a JLP official, who said he also do not know..he went on to say, Mr Golding is going to be in serious trouble in Tivoli..here is it. We the citizens of St Catherine, were very concerned about his presence in TIVOLI.

Wa Tch
5/30/2010

Having inherited the monster of Tivoli however what did BG do to tame it?
He boasted to the BBC that it had the lowest crime rate in Jamaica. How come?
Why did Bruce Golding keep quiet when his constituents defended Presi, marched in the streets and barricaded their community?
What next for Bruce Golding MP?

Hotta Bhingi
5/30/2010

In handing in that list to Macmillian, Seaga displayed courage. He is right, that is where it should have started. Coke was on the list and should have been a person of interest. He should not have received the millions in contracts from the KSAC and central government. Golding must take the blame and resign for allowing Coke to launder money via the state. Golding cannot be trusted anymore, he was given too many chances to redeem himself. This time it is enough and no apology will satisfy us.

Leighton Williams
5/30/2010

If the man gave the commissioner of police a list of men who he - through his ears on the ground - knows are committing grave criminal acts, the commissioner does nothing, what should Seaga do? arrest Dudus by himself. Seaga created Tivoli, but Jamaica created Dudus, uptown people flocked to Passa Passa because "dung deh run under order" nobody "cyan violate" "you can park u car and not even lock it up". Uptown actually envied their safety and security. Look Within, we'll see the real problem

vaughn tucker
5/30/2010

man we can be so bias its either we are PNP OR JLP and that is one of the problem we have now politics can make us so full with hatred so we cant see clearly what another person is saying, is what Mr seaga is saying is true did he gave 13 names of men in his own area names to the police , im sure the man made mistakes, but i do belive he care for those people and i dont belive he is bitter ,

J J
5/30/2010

Do you realise that most of these criminals are young people who have flourished in the country under 17 years of the previous government and under the current administration? They have been kept uneducated and misguided by both administrations for political gains. Look at the rapid downward spiral of the country in the past 20 years? Who is responsible for that? Eddie?

Pauline White
5/30/2010

@Lincoln Smith
Why didn't Mr Seage come out before and appeal to the TG residents to take down barricades etc.
He waited to see how this played out when he could have acted before.
Of course the PM has some blame - in fact all Jamaicans do. We were all being held hostage by thugs. We all have paid a price.
Insurance does not cover the looted shops 100%
People have been robbed so TG residents can do them hair
Acknowledge the hurt to everyone please

Pauline White
5/30/2010

Edward Seaga is responsible for the spoilt community of Tivoli Gardens. From his days he fostered that dependent syndrom. Now they feel abandoned. It is a bitter pill for them.
I hope persons doing interventions make them own up to their part.
I hate to see people on TV crying for justice but grinning for the cameras.
Lord forgive me - but some of them still seem to be acting. I imagine they know they are being watched by the enforcers.

Mi Outya
5/30/2010

What makes a man 'great' I wonder? Inthe past few years especially, Mr. Seaga's actions have not portrayed any of the characteristics of true greatness. He has put his own egotistical and self-serving agenda before the well-being and good of the country and the people he claims to love so dearly. Mr. Seaga, I suggest with respect that your behaviour does not even merit, it's time to SHUT UP!

Lincoln Smith
5/30/2010

Otis my friend..these are mostly Jamaicans who live abroad!! Easy to tell..They dont talk about CURRENT issues or the CURRENT players,they talk about who & what were relevant when they lived here & what they KNEW about back then.Mr Seaga makes a few comments & instead of critiquing what he said,they attack the man!Bruce Golding is TOTALLY responsible for all this.Making extradition reqst public,tipping off thugs,betraying decent people of Jamaica like he did to his own JLP.Why are we surprised?

Jaye Stone
5/30/2010

Demus one and Martial Law, please note that in a "true democratic society" or a "country of laws", no matter how guilty Seaga is, he would not have been shot. or executed. Jamaica is not a dictatorship. Seaga is just a man with no conscience and the adoration of him by Tivoli residents is the same way many slaves used to feel towards their owners. Dudus they feared because he had the power of life and death in his hands.

otis grant
5/30/2010

amazing.at this point it time we still blame seaga for ills in the country.what of bruce and portia and PJ? this is like people blaming brian lara for the current west indies slump, or blaming slavery for where we are now as a people.if munro college was down in the dumps now would we blame the principal who was at the helm there 20 years ago? i am waiting to see the response of jamaica when this man edward seaga the country's greatest (yes he has his faults like we all do) prime minister dies.

james bond
5/30/2010

Seaga need to be investigated and prosecuted. This man should be held responsible for the crimes he has committed against the people of Jamaica.
He built the terrorist training camp TIVOLI GARDENS, aided and aibetted criminals, supported and sponsored these terrorists of the state. And he is still at it, this bitter twisted man
Seaga need to repent in public and then crawl in a corner curl up and be out of his misery. What a sad bare face wicked man he his. Not once has he praised the security

Martial Law
5/30/2010

If what we had in jamaica were a true democratic society, Edward Phillip George Seaga would have been tried, convicted and either executed or serving life in prison for crimes against the state, and I daresay, against humanity.
Bruce Golding may have been his able lieutenant who duplicated the same garrison-like situation in Spanish Town, but Bruce did not create Tivoli, Seaga did and we know it and pretend that we do not know it. How is Seaga any different from Dudus? His skin colour perhaps

demus one
5/30/2010

Shut up and go home seaga you are worst than dudus. If you were in a country of laws you would have being shot a long time ago. Who killed the 3 and injured 58 of our arm forces. Who burn down And shoot up the police stations. To put you on the air is a slap in the face of all law abiding and intelegent jamaicans. Someone tell this evil jackass to go back to his pasture and don't piss us of. We are sick and tired of these high society criminals whom are untouchable check his house for dudus.

errol brown
5/30/2010

Well said Jay. A Jamaican Prime Minister should be representing Jamaica and Jamaican. Serving a small area of Kingston with it's "DON" is not serving Jamaica.

Martial Law
5/30/2010

Why are we even giving a forum to this clown? From his rantings it is clear to see that the most that Seaga should have ever been, was a Parish Councillor. His view is too parochial to have been a Prime Minister or a Member of Parliament for that matter.
This is the essence of the problem that we have had in Jamaiaca, and that is, that we listen to, and give a free pass to people based on who they are and who they look like. We do not look at the body of their work over the years.

oliver williams
5/30/2010

MR.Seaga you sad it right sir alot of people may not like how you say it but i'm 100% with you most of those gunmen have long gone and mr.b should have stay in spanish town he was doing a better job there for sure because that where use to live .JAY BROWN SOMEDAY YOU WILL UNDERSTAND

Alvin Buchanan
5/30/2010

The Honorable Edward Seaga created the Frankenstein of a society called Tivoli. Bruce Golding only inherited it, but since Bruce Golding did not create the Frankenstein he does not know how to control it. that's all.

Omar Kenyata
5/30/2010

Those interviews must have been done for the ears of young people and older folks who like Mr Seaga is suffering from SEVERE AMNAESIA ! The only sensible thing he said when his memory came back was that Bruce made GRAVE "errors" in the whole Dudus matter. God and history will deal with Seaga

Oliver Hunter
5/30/2010

@ Jay Brown - Seaga made it clear he had no goodwill to Dudus, so saying he nurtured him and would make him Minister of National Security is quite a stretch.
A dishonest one.

Rob Davis
5/30/2010

It is amazing how the creator of this mayhem now taking place in Jamaica is throwing stones every which way to a lot of people but not at himself.who is he FOOLING...no one but his alter ego call E'DENIAL SEAGA ET AL.

alvin jones
5/30/2010

I agree whole heartedly with you Jay, this is a bitter old man, and I don't believe a word that he said in that interview. If he so wanted the police to do something about dudus he should be following up on that. This is a way to get political mileage, why did he not say something in the days when the events were unfolding. Now he cursing everyone behaving like the white knight coming to be their Saviour. This is why the people behave like that, its all part of a big act.

Jay Brown
5/30/2010

Seaga one bitter old man who should have NEVER represented Jamaica as Prime Minister.
He gave birth to and nurtured people like Dudus in exchange for unwavering support.
He is a complete and utter disgrace as is the remnants of the political dinosaurs that should NEVER be given the opportunity to hold the seat of power and or lead Jamaica ever again !!
I am happy he is longer the JLP leader or else Coke may have been the minister of National Security and his militia running the police force.

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