US Pleased - 'Dudus' move an important first step

State Dept says 'Dudus' move an important first step

BY HAROLD G BAILEY Observer writer editorial@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

NEW YORK, USA — The US State Department yesterday greeted as "an important first step" Prime Minister Bruce Golding's decision to authorise the attorney general to get the extradition process underway for accused Tivoli Gardens drug and arms trafficker Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

"The evidence against Mr Coke was gathered after a lengthy and credible series of investigations and so this is an important first step in resolving this protracted dispute," State Department spokesman Noel Clay told the Observer.

Clay was asked for his comments after Golding announced Monday night he would give the all-clear to Dorothy Lightbourne, the justice minister and attorney general, to hand the extradition request over to the local courts.

Clay insisted that the US request for Coke had "met all the requirements of Jamaican laws and the Extradition Treaty to which both Jamaica and the United States are signatories".

Since August last year when it first asked that Coke be handed over, the US had maintained that the Jamaican Government should put the matter before the local courts, but Golding had refused, on grounds that the evidence against Coke was illegally obtained and had breached Jamaican laws.

The about-turn by Golding followed mounting pressure for his resignation as prime minister after he admitted to the nation last week that he had approved the ruling Jamaica Labour Party's hiring of US law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to lobby US authorities against the extradition matter.

Prior to the prime minister's announcement Monday, reports were circulating here that the US was considering sanctions to force Jamaica's hand on the matter.

But the State Department's Clay told the Observer that he had no information to that effect, stressing that both countries enjoyed an excellent relationship, had successfully worked on extradition and other law enforcement matters and that "the US looks forward to a continuation of that co-operation".

But the US has still not yet dispatched an ambassador to Kingston, almost 17 months since the last ambassador ended her tour of duty. Jamaica, however, last Saturday sent off ambassador-designate to Washington, Audrey Marks to replace Ambassador Anthony Johnson.

Marks apparently had to swing into action immediately, as the Jamaican Government sent word of its latest decision to the White House. Highly placed Observer sources in Kingston said the two sides began talking and that the stalemate appeared to be broken.

— With additional reporting by Desmond Allen

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COMMENTS (23)

John John
5/19/2010

@ Jay Jay - how much money are the servants begging the IMF U.S controlled master for again?
It's one thing to be big in your pants, and quite another to be borrowing money while still full of self importance.

John John
5/19/2010

@Brad Kerr -
The corruption in Jamaica is shared EQUALLY between the PNP & JLP.
Remember PNP's Willie Haggart? The business man? lol ? from the Black Rose crew? who had his funeral services in the NATIONAL STADIUM? with Peter Philips attending??
This garbage happening in Jamaica is not a PNP or JLP thing.
bruce has just proven to be one of the most INCOMPETENT compromised prime ministers of all time.
What would a competent corrupt prime minister in bruces shoes do?
Hide dudus under him bed and tell America he has no idea where he is.
However, an INCOMPETENT compromised prime minister will pick a fight with his bread & butter. ala bruce.
After the dudus debacle is over, I want the same scrutiny on the PNP garrison don controlled community.
Garbage is garbage whether PNP or JLP.

april scott
5/19/2010

@ yard, i saw the ship too on the news & i wonder why of a sudden this unusal ship is sited at portland on Monday. No body has a clue to this big white ship that has never been seen in jamaica coast.....but we all know who it is & it aint the cruise ship.

Anancy Bedward
5/19/2010

Always remember these 3 features of the arrogant American mentality .
1) America always knows best and can do no wrong.
2) America always gets what it wants.
3) Never forget the first two.
.
By the way I am not anti-American. I am just calling things as they are. They will get their way in this Dudus saga. Jamaica has nothing that is vital to them that can be used to make them back off.

Jay Jay
5/19/2010

Yeah I know they would.....The master is pleased with its servants, even though they infringed on our rights

Brad Kerr
5/19/2010

Are you people saying the JLP government is run by criminals. If so, this does not auguers well for the island of Jamaica. @ Hotta Fire you keep musing about people in Govt caught up in this situation, I hope its just rumors. As a nation we would be screwed if this was the case. If the international community cant feel comfortable doing any busines with this Govt then maybe we really need fresh elections. What I am trying to comprehend is how a party that promised to do business differently actually ended to be more thuggish than it's predecessor. What the PNP took 18 years to accomplish, being branded as corrupt, the JLP took two years to do. Now they are not only seen as inept, but they are seen as ranked with criminal elements in the upper echlons of its leadership. No matter what you people said about the PNP they were never looked at thugs and criminls. The insinuation that the JLP MP's are somehow involved with Mr Coke is quite troubleing. Hopefully they know what INTERPOL is.

Magar Boy
5/19/2010

@ David Armstrong
Couldnt agree with you anymore. Oh I wish the US would have as many of these for a want of better term unethical people off our shores. I am convinced the Polititians have no desire in curbing crime. If I were in charge of this country I would supply the US government with some more names of people who are wreaking havoc in this country. Since we cant deal with them and somebody else is willing I say power to them. Oh I wish for the day when I will have peace in this country,

Yard Vibz
5/19/2010

Assuming that Mr. Bailey, Observer star reporter, has knowledge of the US Naval Vessel that has been spotted just off the shores of Portland, Jamaica; then it would have been nice if he had inquired about the significance of same, during his in-depth dialogue with Clay. You know, we would like to know if the ship had drifted there due to unusually rough sea, a comatose captain at the wheel, or perhaps they are in pursuits of stowaway Haitians. Mi nah start no pasa-pasa, mi just a wonder like everybody else. Peace!

richard hause
5/19/2010

You bet the US is pleased,it's "do as we say,not as we do" this is how the mighty one operates.If we step back,and look at most of the chaos in the world,you will see the dirty hands of uncle sam behind the scenes,as it is in Jamaica,we can remember when the CIA helped supply the JLP with the arms and ammo,what did they think it was used for,shooting ducks?
The USA know how to pick its fights,kinda like a schoolyard bully.If the phone taps are obtained illegally,they dont care,its their way or no way.
If you notice,the US will always have "diplomatic talks with the stronger countries" but will invade or bomb the weaker ones.Bully tactics is all they know,and thats unfortunate for Jamaica.

Paul Lewis
5/19/2010

@ Dorlan H. Francis, the same thing applies to Jamaica...we should cut our demand for guns. If the U.S. extradited the gun suppliers then there would be a grand home coming...for the demons are our own people. Maybe the Ganja lobby should protest any extradition of Ganja suppliers. In the end the U.S. will get what it wants...for tiny countries that have nothing of consequence to them can be squeezed. Thats just the real world.

John John
5/19/2010

THANKS AMERICA.
One don down, and many to go.
Also, the Jamaican people were fed up with the garbage from so-called musicians that subjected our children to their poisonous words penned in song.
By banning these dirty artists, the new generation will realize that they have to sing songs that do not promote killing anyone, drugs, murder, nastiness etc...etc.
What is going to end up happenning is that the garbage entertainers will make a dollar but ONLY in Jamaica.
The other entertainers who get it, will be able to travel wordlwide and make 1000 times more money than their clipped wings counterparts who continue to sing garbage.
Obama is cleaning house.
That is what OUR POLITICIANS should have been doing over the years.
Both PNP & JLP are machines that support themselves on the back of Jamaicans.
Thanks Obama for cleaning house.
BUT DON'T STOP YET. NUFF NUFF GARBAGE LEFT.

JA Cynic
5/19/2010

There is a fundamental and critical distinction between a first step and fancy footworks.
Hope the GOJ is painfully aware of the distinction.
JA Cynic

Wa Tch
5/19/2010

Keep turning the screws USA.
We don't want this govt ever to put us in such a storm again.
Lash dem.

george watson
5/19/2010

Today we have former Coke attorney, Mr. Tom Tavares-Finson appealing to the security forces not to use the opportunity to murder innocent folks in Tivoli. I think the more appropriate appeal would have been to Mr. Coke to give himself up to the authorities so that justice can have its course.
Just goes to show you how these people think. Anything Tivoli does is right and the aurhotities have to work around it.
I wonder if Mr. Seaga, as an elder statesman is proud of the monster he created in Tivoli?
Power is so brief.
The good that men do...........

David Armstrong
5/19/2010

The argument that US citizens who committed illegal acts against foreign countries are not extradited to those countries to stand trial does not justify the non-extradition of Dudus. As I said in previous comments, this extradition request for Dudus is a blessing in disguise for Jamaica. It is the catalyst that will start the reaction to dismantling the garrison districts and the connections that politicians have with criminals.
Both political parties and Jamaicans have allowed the criminals in garrison constituents to influence political decisions for too long. This has contributed to the lawlessness plaguing the country as evidenced by the heinous murders that are occurring too frequently.
The Jamaican Diaspora has played a strong role in making their voices heard on the Dudus issue. We are putting politicians on notice that they cannot conduct business as usual with criminals. We will use our power to mobilize opposition against them and force them out of office.

John Smith
5/19/2010

We seem to have our priorities mixed up here. The more important issue - the hell with "pleasing" the USA - is whether or not Jamaica can start transitioning from an era of politically sanctioned gun and drug running, extortionist dons (or so accused) to one of the rule of law where people can walk on the road, go whichever place they please, and run their business without factoring extortion in their financial outlook. That's been the important issue, is the important issue, and will remain so. The fact that satisfying the USA is also apart of the benefits of this move then, no problem there... Let's keep our priorities in focus. Law-abiding Jamaica is pleased.

Hotta Fire
5/19/2010

Important first step, now it will get more technical when the ministers under investigation are called to give evidence and incriminate themselves. Remember it is not only about dudus, he could not have become powerful without the backing of powerful corrupt politicians who were tyring to shield him. Golding's own admittance of subverting justice have incriminated him. He will have to fire these ministers, who in turn when faced with prison snetences will eventually speak of his more direct involvement in aiding and abetting money laundering through the government of jamaica contracts etc. Jamaica it is best to reject Golding now and move on and leave them to fight their own battles. Jamaica has its own hardships and the use of state resources should not be used to protect criminals who have managed to become state officials. It might be difficult for us to believe, but these are the things the nation will have to face. It happens all over the world and we are no exception. Bruce gwaan

Dale Morris
5/19/2010

I like it when ppl read and comprehend, the US wording this is an importatnt first step. they know the president will never reach American soil as the next step.

Chuck Emanuel
5/19/2010

My hope is that we continue to put the pressure on those who will pretend that they are sincere about cleaning up the corruption and criminality. If concrete actions are not demonstrated shortly to match the words, then more action to force resignations will be more rigorous.
This is not a time for Politicians to be more concerned about their pension.

Dorlan H. Francis
5/19/2010

America ought to deal with their drug DEMAND problem before they focus on SUPPLIERS. If there were no demand no one would be supplying.
And what about America's SUPPLY of guns that is killing people all over the world. There are 10,000 gun stores on the US/Mexico border supplying guns to Mexicans. Notice the SLAUGHTER which takes place in Mexico and in our Jamaica. Can we extradite some of those gun SUPPLIERS? No The GUN LOBBY would not allow it. But we must suffer social unrest because people from Jamaica supply Americans who demand feel good drugs. Something is wrong with this arrangement.

John Small
5/19/2010

The courts might still determine that Dudus should stay right here in Jamaica.
That would be fine since he would have had his day in court like any other citizen and earned a favourable judgement.

Straight Arrow
5/19/2010

obtuse BRUCE has play deuce
he has induce
now he is aking truce
but the abuse is
no excuse to deduce
it is so profuse
we will have to caboose
like a moose
and put on the nose

Jay Brown
5/19/2010

Will he make it to the USA OR WILL he suffer the same fate as his dad.
I bet you they already have a special cell prepared for him

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US Pleased - 'Dudus' move an important first step