'Dudus' backlash • US blasts JA over extradition delay

US blasts JA over ‘Dudus’, drugs

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

THE US State Department yesterday blasted Jamaica for its indecision in the extradition request for Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to face drug trafficking charges in America, saying that it brought into question the island's commitment to law enforcement co-operation and highlighted the potential depth of corruption in the Government.

"Jamaica's processing of the extradition request has been subjected to unprecedented delays, unexplained disclosure of law enforcement information to the press, and unfounded allegations questioning the US' compliance with the MLAT (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty) and Jamaican law," said the State Department in its annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report released yesterday.

According to the report, until August 2009, the extradition treaty between Washington and Kingston had been actively and successfully used to extradite suspected criminals from Jamaica. Extradition requests, it said, were routinely and timely processed by Jamaican political and judicial authorities.

"The Government of Jamaica's unusual handling of the August request for the extradition of a high-profile Jamaican crime lord, with reported ties to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, which currently holds a majority in Parliament, on alleged drug and firearms trafficking charges marked a dramatic change in Kingston's previous co-operation on extradition, including a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests and raises serious questions about the Government's commitment to combating transnational crime," the State Department said.

"The high-profile suspect resides in and essentially controls the Kingston neighbourhood known as Tivoli Gardens, a key constituency for the Jamaica Labour Party," said the report.

The US also labelled Jamaica as the Caribbean's largest supplier of marijuana to the United States as well as a transshipment point for cocaine entering South America.

"The Government of Jamaica's ambitious anti-corruption and anti-crime legislative agendas announced in 2007 remain stalled in Parliament," said the report.

"Five anti-crime proposals under consideration as part of an extensive agenda to address the widespread crime challenges have yet to be debated by Parliament," added Washington, which noted that Jamaica is a party to the 1988 United Nations Drug Convention.

At the same time, the US said drug-related arrests were relatively stagnant at 6,346 arrests for 2009, while drug seizure levels showed a dramatic decrease with approximately nine metric tonnes of marijuana seized, compared to nearly 32 metric tonnes in 2008.

While pointing out that Jamaica does not facilitate or encourage illicit production or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions, the US said pervasive public corruption continued to undermine efforts against drug-related and other crimes. Public corruption, it added, plays a major role in the safe passage of drugs and drug proceeds through Jamaica.

"For the first time, corruption ranked first to crime and violence as the area of greatest concern for Jamaicans. It remains the major barrier to improving counter-narcotics efforts," the Americans said, adding that Jamaica's delay in processing the extradition request for Coke "highlights the potential depth of corruption in the Government".

The State Department also noted that a bill creating an Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor remains stuck in Parliament despite having the requisite legislative majority needed for passage.

"There has not been legislative action to create a National Anti-corruption Agency, which could satisfy the Inter- American Convention against Corruption's requirements," the State Department said.

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COMMENTS (26)

donny schwartz
3/2/2010

Ask the US to hand over Dudus' counterparts in the US. Who did buy the alleged gus from? where did he send the alleged drugs to? And all of you mouthing off and bowing to the Almighty US what if a similoar claim was made against your family member? based on hearsay? what would you say then? would you continue to bawl: "send him gwaan and save mi visa? pittyful lot....

Dulcimina Cameron
3/2/2010

In the mid Eighties the then leader and Prime Minister of Jamaica made the comment "LET HE WHO RIDES THE TIGER'S BACK KNOW HE DARES NOT DISMOUNT" How profound a statement was that!
I know the OBSERVER wasn't in circultaion at the time, but if you take the time to check it can be varified!

W Swaby
3/2/2010

Mr Golding, I am a firm supporter of the JLP and I know your back is against the wall., But you have to give up DUDAS for the good of the party. Don't matter the link he has to the party. The party is bigger than any one man. His crime, if any, is separate from the people of Jamaica and from the party. No matter what favor you might owe him, it is time to let him go. Else you will not hear the end of it come election time.
You have to let the law take its course. Whatever he is alleged to do, if he is not guilty he will prevail. He has to take his chance of clearing his name. Holding up the extradition only cement his guilt. These things are hard to prove, and he is guiltless until proven guilty.
Let the man clear his name and the doubts of the failing PNP party.

Geo Salmon
3/2/2010

Our fickle tourism industry could suffer irrepearable damage, with all the crime and violence, if US should issue a travel advisory on Jamaica. It is in times like these we defferenciate the political weaklings from those who have fortitude. Come on Bruce eat your humble pie and do the right thing. You cant wish this one away......

Wa Tch
3/2/2010

It will be interesting to see how Golding will respond to this.
Will he pass the blame?
Has he ever taken responsibility? Whose fault is it this time?
Who will be the sacrificial lamb.? Will it be the AG?
Will the principle of collective responsibility be retired in favour of personal protection?
Watch him flip flop and run for safety this evening.
This man is a joke. Hypocrisy is on the loose.

Cee Dubya
3/2/2010

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Said, “Oh cho! A ongle egg!” ”
Heard that variation sometime ago.
Reports upon reports upon reports. The messengers might be different, but the message is essentially the same. When they are published, I suspect many Jamaicans kinda shrug and go, “Den mi neva tell yuh from mawnin? Yuh neva need a report fi tell yuh dat!” Ho-hum. What might make you sit up and take note, however, is not so much the messenger, but who sent him.

The contents seem, very often, to simply echo what many already perceive as factual or close to it (if a nuh so it go, a almos so). The sad thing is….well, one of the sad things is, we have grown accustomed to the whole thing – the corrupt practices, the class-driven inequality in the administration of justice, the laziness and selfishness and spinelessness of those whom we have employed/elected to work… And they are not held accountable!!! Keep a man locked up for two years as a result of gross inefficiencies in what passes for a judicial system in Jamaica, but, turn a blind eye, or give a slap on the wrist, for acts committed by criminals wearing collars of a different colour.
Do we not see the connection? If those in the relevant positions of authority blatantly disregard what is right and proper and fair, as they mete out their responses to the wrongdoings of their cronies, it’s simply saying, “To heck with all of you, Jamaica! I’m doing this for me and what is in my best interest.” Welllllllll, don’t you figure it’s the same thing that the gunman says? Hm? “To heck with all of you, Jamaica, this is in my best interest? I am NOT, for second, condoning acts of crime. I’m saying the link is a distinct probability. Think about it. My God man! You hug up the wrong in your own circle; manipulate “the system” to suit yourself and your cronies and then have the …what is the word? the gall…I need something stronger…the impertinence, the brazenness, to wonder why the level of crime and violence in Jamaica is so high? Why we can’t get crime under control? Do you not see the connection? If you carry out and get away with your criminal acts and acts of corruption, what is good for the goose… And while both sides play this insidious game of “Punchinella”, the rest of us are hurting and suffering.
I haven’t been privy to the USSD’s report. And it is always advisable to take everything with a grain of salt. However, I do suspect that if it does make it to the public forum, we’d find that many claims are not surprising in the least.
As reported, the “…ambitious anti-corruption and anti-crime legislative agendas announced in 2007 remain stalled in Parliament”; “a bill creating an Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor remains stuck in Parliament…” Stuck, stalled, po-tay-to, po-tah-to. Dem not moving! Given the track record, we can imagine that if the referenced agendas even get (or have) the legislative majority needed to pass them, implementation might be a long way off. (Shall we recall, again, the Cap Punishment legislation, on which chi chi is probably feasting as we speak?)
How great a fall (out) should we expect? And when (insert optimism: if) that happens, will those who can, help? Or, will they just relegate Jamaica to the heap, shrug and say, “Oh cho!” ?

Norman Lee
3/2/2010

This is a serious indictment on non-cooperation by the Jamaican government. The only difference in the processing of these requests are the political directorate; so it is plain that there is interference resulting in the inordinate delay. This was the biggest test for the government to show its commitment to law and order and interdiction of international crime. Further, it was also a great opportunity to show non-partisian approach when dealing with suspects. The government has scored very low in both areas. Perhaps with the release of this damning report we will now see some actions and the appointment of a US ambassador!
This dilly dallying has tarnished the credibility of the JLP government, the full effects to be seen in the future.

Olivier Olivier
3/2/2010

They always enter into 'deals' with local authorities to prevent their own citizens from being tried/sentenced in other countries, like recent cases where americans were convicted in Italy, and also in Brazil and currently in Pakistan.

Olivier Olivier
3/2/2010

So what if the US feels this way about Jamaica's response? They don't have a good record either.

Noel Richards
3/2/2010

It's about time. Let's see how Bruce Golding's arrogant administration will handle this one.

Yard Vibz
3/2/2010

This in-depth report that the State dept has furnished us with, has nullified the imaginary traces of ambiguities once embarked upon by Bruce Golding. I mean think about it, the top dogs in Washington, have constructed and formulated their arguments in a way that would convince yardies that they (US), have been navigating their path through Western Kingston, from the early era of Claude Massup & Sandakan
Bruce, if you or any of your associates happens to pick up inputs from these comments, I would strongly suggest that you make a conscious effort to retire the now redundant phrase of “due diligence”. It should appear to you by now that Uncle Sam is adamant about his request for Jamaica’s # labourite. By the way, a who tell Uncle Sam seh a Dudus a run things a Tivoli? Dem people deh dangerous yuh kno! Imagine dem deh so far and even know seh di man nuh eat meat.

C. Brown
3/2/2010

Thank you America! Only when u says it, they will listen. We've been saying it all along, but no one seems to care. I am extremely disappointed with the level of leadership in Jamaica. It seems to be business as usual with all the mayhem going on in Jamaica. Is Jamaica in a world by itself? A two year old child perish in a firebomb, a policeman dragged from house, tied up and shot, a 82 yr old woman shot to death, etc, etc, yet I don't hear the PM or opposition saying enough, enough, or mek wi try fix the problem now. But when a visa got cancelled, the government sprung into action. The gov't needs to protect the people at all cost.
The "Dudus" matter is another example of how deep the level of corruption is in Jamaica. What did the gov't think; it was just going to go away?
I hope America cancel all the visas of those in parliament to send them a message that they're there to serve the people and not the interest of a few...
Wake up Jamaica; you're a diamond in the rough

Richard Edwards
3/2/2010

Well, we all expected this day to come, well it has come, now what. This is a very scathing assessment of the current goverment by the State Department. I will say this with 100% certainity, the cancelling of some persons visas is merely the tip of the iceberg, just remember I told you so. But, the Bruce Golding government can turn this around, and it can do so quickly, although in the process some very senior members of government WILL be implicated as well. There is a famous African proverbs that goes ' NO MATTER HOW LONG THE NIGHT IS, DAY MUST COME'. What a mess.
Richard Edwards. New York City
betterlifeforjamaicans@yahoo.com

Brad Thompson
3/2/2010

This show how incompetent the Jamaican Government is. The country should come first not criminals. This disregard for justice for those people who are killed by the hands of these criminal leaders need to face justice and its a shame the only justice that can seen is from another country who have the evidence to convict.

Bill Bowen
3/2/2010

What Bruce Golding think he is doing , We are not going to sit and watch you put this Country at ransom.
we will take things in our own hands, you try resolved this as soon as possible.
Thank you.

Trevor Dawes
3/2/2010

This report, by the US State Dep't., only restates what every Jamaican with half a brain already knows. Corruption is a big problem and the actions of the Jamaican gov't with this extradition request only serves to reinforce this. Dithering and hypocrisy on this request and by this and the prior administrations with regards to passing meaningful anti-crime measures that have been stuck in Parliament makes a mockery of justice and the fight against corruption in Jamaica. The screws are being tightened now by the US gov't and watch for the continued delay in the US naming an ambassador to Ja., possible travel advisories for Americans wishing to vist and for this matter to get increasing attention in the US media. In all these possible scenarios, Jamaica is not going to come out of any looking good.

baRt siMsen
3/2/2010

Heh! Tory a come to bump! Mr. Seaga had no idea that his own action of siding with the Americans against Jamaicans would come back to bite him in his "private parts." Hell pop!

Richie L
3/2/2010

"The State Department also noted that a bill creating an Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor remains stuck in Parliament despite having the requisite legislative majority needed for passage. "
.
This statement points to what I have always wondered about the operations of government in Jamaica. Jamaica has a parliamentary system, meaning the Prime Minister is a member of the party that has a majority in Parliament. So why is it that we have not seen a more robust legislative process?
.
There are several proposed bills on the table, yet there seems to be no urgency to get things done. It is not like the presidential system in the US, where the president could be from a different party from the party controlling Congress.
.
Bruce Golding is the leader of the JLP, which controls Parliament, though with a slim majority, why can't we get laws passed to benefit Jamaica? Why the paralysis?
.
This is pointing to a lack of leadership. What is the Speaker of the House, Delroy Chuck doing?

Hope Alive
3/2/2010

Only the Administration does not believe that they have acted improperly in the Dudus' affair. Any fallout from this debacle whether it be violence in the streets of Kingston or sanction from the USA must be laid squarely at the feet of this administration. The administration should have sent the matter to the court a long time ago and let the court decide. If there is insufficient evidence, then the court would have to acquit the accused person. Are you telling me that the administration does not have faith in the Jamaican court?

Jade July
3/2/2010

I don not agree with extraditions unless of course the person came to the country and committed a crime. Too many of our nationals and nationals of other countries have been extradited to the US tried and convicted on hear say. Even their own US citizens have been tried and convicted some even executed on "hear say" or false evidence. With note look how many persons have been and are still been and some are awiting release after spending many years in prison only for them to now be decleared what they had been saying all along I am innocent. OF NOTE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD SUSPENDED THE EXTRADITION TRETY WITH THE US FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, SO WHEN "RUMORS" THAT THEIR DON WAS WANTED,HE WAS SAFE BECAUSE THE TREATY WAS SUSPENDED but the question still begs an answer WHY THE DELAY? AND WHY THE US DON'T EXTRADITE THEIR CITIZENS WANTED FOR CRIMES IN OTHER COUNTRIES?

Elli Deedo
3/2/2010

The Government of Jamaica had no rights to have signed to a extradition treaty without informing the Citizens of the Country: This process should have been done by means of a referendom.
The people of a democratic nation must be made privillaged to all information in regards to decisions their government is prepared to make. We are now calling on the administration to let us use our democratic privillage in deciding if we want's to see Black's continue's to be Chained up and transported to the Imperialist Slave camp. This action depict's Modern days Slavery; If Mr. Coke is guilty of a offence, he can be tried in his Country, and if found Guilty, the court will take it's action..Prison confinement is similar every where: The Americans continue's to In-carcerate mostly Blacks; because they have been seen as the poorest class, and most times they have been poorly represented in Court..Several are not guilty of the Crime they have been accused of doing.
Psychological discrimination against the dark skins is very strong in the United States. Statistics have revealed that most of the American Slave Camps, better known as Prisons are filled with mostly Blacks..as a minority group. They continue's to discriminate's against Blacks: Jamaicans are not Slaves. We are also not geared to live under a dict-tat-orial administration, where Government enforce laws without considering it's effect on the Citizens: As a result of this we are now having to confront pressure from external forces, to have our Citizens extradite to Slave Camps overseas. We must not sit back and allow this to continue:

george watson
3/2/2010

Isn't it strange? The JLP came to power because of PNP corruption, the economy, police killings, mismangement, and all have gotten worse under the JLP. Why is the PNP so,silent? I have a sneaky suspicion that this blog wont be published.

hismajestyson hismajestyson
3/2/2010

I dont understand why bruce believe he should turn over Jamaica to the prezident. We are characterized as rogue because of dudus. This will negatively affect jamaicans and jamaica eventually. Bruce this scenario leads us to request your resignation as you are perceived as weak and indecisive.

Fuzzyrella One
3/2/2010

It was only a matter of time before the US govt would come to this position. The Ja. Govt has dragged its feet deliberately on this matter and we're are no doubt, about to face a backlash for it. Yet another clear example of the ineptitude of the present government.

Jay Brown
3/2/2010

Bruce,
This is the first Salvo fired by the USA in this long standing Dudus saga.
As the report suggest this JLP administration despite its "tough" talk is soft and crime.
You all better check with the embassy before you all travel as the USA about to unleash its biggest weapon, that is the "coveted" USA visa .
Bruce how can you let one man, yes one man put the entire country at risk.
How can you??????

J.Maureen Haughton
3/2/2010

Sensational headlines!! Backlash? Well......NOT YET!!

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'Dudus' backlash • US blasts JA over extradition delay