MAYOR of Kingston Desmond McKenzie allegedly tried to dissuade the United States in its extradition request for former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, according to US diplomatic cables leaked to the anti-secrecy WikiLeaks website.

According to the cable, published yesterday by the UK Guardian newspaper, McKenzie told United States officials in September 2009 that the request to extradite Coke on firearms and drug-trafficking charges risked “destroying everything the Government was trying to do on the economy and crime”.

He is alleged to have told an American Embassy official in Kingston that this could lead to “serious repercussions” for Jamaica.

McKenzie, who is also a senator in the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and councillor for the Tivoli Gardens Division, allegedly told the official that his party had collaborated with Coke to control crime in inner-city communities, particularly West Kingston.

Asked to comment on the allegations yesterday, McKenzie slammed a door in this reporter’s face at his Church Street office in Kingston, while commenting in a boisterous manner: “Mi no have no time fi foolishness,” as he stormed off.

His violent reaction followed earlier interviews with two radio stations in which he denied the allegations, saying he could not recall any such discussions with any US Embassy official.

Information Minister Daryl Vaz was unable to say yesterday on whose instructions, if any, was the mayor acting when he requested the meeting as reported.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Vaz told the Observer.

The Office of the Prime Minister told the Observer that a statement would be issued but this was not forthcoming at Observer press time.

The cable is among some 250,000 secret diplomatic communications between Washington and its embassies dating back to some three years ago. The cables were obtained by WikiLeaks, which then circulated them to some of the world’s leading news organisations.

Titled, “US request to extradite powerful don presents Government with a dangerous dilemma: Kingston Mayor warns of severe repercussions,” the cable was sent last year by Charge d’Affaires Isiah Parnell. McKenzie, the cable said, had requested to meet with United States embassy officials on September 1 to discuss an “urgent” matter and that the private meeting was held in his office.

In his summary analysis in the cable to Washington, Parnell warned that the extradition request for Coke, whom he described as “a powerful don” with “close ties” to the JLP presented the Government with “a dangerous dilemma” and “could spark violent incidents, ignite rivalries among competing gang factions, and unleash a challenge to the state and to Golding’s own influence in West Kingston and beyond”.

“McKenzie’s fears are not unfounded: Coke’s wealth, power and influence are pervasive, and his sudden removal could spark violent incidents and/or unleash rivalries among competing gang factions in Kingston, Spanish Town, and Montego Bay. …His long-standing ties to the JLP have put McKenzie, Golding, and other leading party figures in an extremely awkward position,” Parnell added.