LEGAL representatives of Prime Minister Bruce Golding have written to US news network ABC seeking redress for a recent newscast referring to Golding as a ‘criminal affiliate’ of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

“It is being pursued as we speak,” Information Minister Daryl Vaz told journalists at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House.

Vaz added that a statement was issued by the prime minister this week and legal action was being pursued by him “on a personal basis”.

During the security forces incursion into Tivoli Gardens to apprehend Coke in late May, ABC published a damning story accusing Golding of being in association with the alleged drug lord, who is wanted in the US on arms- and drug-running charges.

ABC’s reports also alleged that the ruling Jamaica Labour Party was voted into power through “Coke’s murderous and strong-arm tactics”.

According to ABC, the information was quoted from “official US accounts”.

However, Assistant Secretary Philip J Crowley later denied knowledge of such a document saying instead they were working with the Jamaican prime minister in crime prevention in the island.

Golding subsequently dismissed the ABC report as “extremely offensive” and charged that efforts to link him personally with the alleged drug kingpin were “clearly part of a conspiracy to undermine the duly elected government of Jamaica”.

For almost nine months Golding refused a US extradition request for Coke but relented under public pressure in May.