Dear Editor,

I am one of the many Jamaicans very disappointed in the report of the commissioners following the Manatt/Dudus Commission of Enquiry.

The report is a reflection of the way the commissioners handled the enquiry where it appears as if no one was in charge and whoever could speak the loudest was allowed to be heard. Also, I just can’t believe that based on the evidence placed before them they produced a report where no one was cited for misconduct.

The entire Jamaican public, both here and abroad, heard the evidence presented and I believe that even some members of the JLP were surprised when not one person was cited for misconduct. The commissioners stated that the JLP hired Manatt,Phelps and Phillips. How did they arrive at this conclusion when Manatt, Phelps and Phillips stated that their client was the government of Jamaica? Attorney Harold Brady said he was a consultant to the government of Jamaica and engaged Manatt in that capacity. Dr Ronald Robinson stated that he met with Manatt officials in his capacity as state minister in the ministry of foreign affairs, yet the commissioners came to the conclusion that the JLP hired Manatt.

The commissioners also said that the MOUs signed by Dr Phillips in 2004 were unconstitutional. This is a matter for the courts to decide and not a part of their terms of reference — yet it was stated in their report. They further stated that the MOUs were signed with good intentions. This implies that the commissioners examined the MOU and stated a view of the intent of the person who signed them. Why didn’t the commissioners state the intent of the JLP in the hiring of Manatt? Evidence was presented that the issues in any extradition matter are state matters and should be handled by government officals. Evidence was presented at the enquiry that there was no stalemate or stonewall between Jamaica and the USA and that before any official communcation was made by the Jamaican Government to the USA, the JLP hired the firm to sort out extradition matters. My question to the commissioners remains, what was the intent?

Dean James

mrdeanjames28@hotmail.co.uk