The Jamaican government has yielded to calls for a commission of enquiry into the handling of the extradition request for ousted Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a 48-second statement to Parliament yesterday, said “the composition of the commission and the more precise terms of reference will be announced shortly”.
Golding said the commissioners, who are to be chosen, would be asked to “enquire into the issues relating to the request by the United States (US) government for the extradition of Mr Christopher Coke, the manner in which the request was dealt with and the engagement by Harold Brady & Company, of the US firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips”.
The Government’s decision to hold a commission of enquiry comes months after East Central St Andrew Member of Parliament Dr Peter Phillips revealed the engagement of the law firm to lobby the US Government on the Coke matter, apparently on behalf of the Jamaican Government.
Golding initially dismissed Phillips’ claims in Parliament as a search for headlines, but went on the defensive after documentary evidence revealed that Harold Brady, an influential member of the governing Jamaica Labour Party, had contracted Manatt’s services to lobby the US on what was described as treaty matters. (Jamaica Gleaner)
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