This is not Somalia, we hope

[Lazie]

EDITORIAL - This is not Somalia, we hope
Published: Sunday | September 6, 2009

Prime Minister Bruce Golding and his attorney general, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, must move with urgency to clear the air on the matter of the request by United States authorities for the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Mr Coke is, of course, the West Kingston-based businessman and 'community leader' who the United States wants to extradite, allegedly for conspiring to import narcotics into America and exporting guns from there to Jamaica.

The prime minister (PM) has said the Government has requested more information, but it is imperative that the Jamaican public have the assurance that this is in keeping with due process, precedents and procedures followed in relation to other extradition requests. Otherwise, the public will be left to conclude that the Government is dithering in the instant case.
This newspaper, as we have stressed before, offers no opinion on Mr Coke's guilt or innocence, but speaks to a larger issue. We believe in constitutional order, the rule of law, and hold that Jamaica must respect its international treaty obligations.

The Government's handling of the Coke matter raises serious and relevant questions about its commitment to these principles, and whether Mr Golding has it within him to be the leader he threatened to become a decade and a half ago when he posited himself as new and different and declared himself in favour of moral governance. Which is not to misapprehend the dilemma on whose prongs Mr Golding feels himself to stand, but rather, to reassure him that the greater stand is for principle.

Political garrisons

The PM's and his party's concern, of course, is that West Kingston is the political constituency represented by him, having inherited it - as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party - from his predecessor, Edward Seaga. West Kingston, broadly, and Tivoli Gardens in particular, are considered to be political garrisons, those zones of political exclusion from which opposing political parties, and views, are essentially barred.

In these communities, where the politician once held sway, the order has shifted in favour of the 'don' who, now in independent command of resources - however acquired - has superseded the State as community benefactor. In the case of West Kingston/Tivoli Gardens, and many other communities across Kingston, Christopher Coke is 'the man'. The fear is that should Mr Coke be arrested, violence would erupt in West Kingston and elsewhere.

The Government and the JLP, with which Mr Coke has a residual relationship, would prefer he surrendered to the authorities and signalled to his supporters his willingness to go quietly. There are those, in the logic of territorial appeasement, who counsel that he be allowed to put a succession plan in place.
The former point we understand; the latter is nonsense, unless we accept Jamaica's place alongside Somalia. Jamaica is not at that place, and we expect the Government to do the right thing - before it is too late.


http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...cleisure1.html

[Lazie]

Dudus’ dilemma


Article Published: Sunday, September 6th, 2009
Christopher Michael “Dudus’ Coke

Based on the evidence presented in the southern District Court of New York, Christopher Michael “Dudus’ Coke would have to defend himself against multiple charges of how he and others conspired to distribute marijuana and cocaine in New York and elsewhere between 1994 and 2007. The accused would also have to answer to multiple arms trafficking charges.
The Grand jury indictment states that from 1994, and October 2007, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL COKE, a/k/a “Michael Christopher Coke, a/k/a “Paul Christopher Scott, a/k/a “Presi, a/k/a “General,” a/k/a “President,” a/k/a “Duddus,” a/k/a “Shortman” and others known and unknown, unlawfully, intentionally, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to violate the narcotics laws of the United States.
Coke would also have answer to firearm related charges. According to the Grand Jury charges around 1994, Coke and others known and unknown: not being licensed importers, licensed manufacturers and licensed dealers engaged in the business of dealing in firearms: In the course of such business ship and transport firearms in interstate commerce in breach of US laws.
Coke and his co-conspirators will answer charges of possession of and intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of Sections 812, 841(a) (1), and 841(b) (1) (A) of Title 21, United States Code.
The accused and his co-conspirators would also face charges for unlawfully, intentionally, distributing five kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine. The Grand Jury was told that Coke controlled the Tivoli Gardens area, a neighborhood in inner city Kingston, Jamaica, since 1990.
The members of Coke’s organization, known as the “Shower Posse”, and also as “Presidential Click”, an organization based in Tivoli Gardens, other areas of Jamaica, and in other countries, including the United States were involved in trafficking.
According to Federal authorities, in or about 1994, members of the organization have been involved in drug trafficking in the New York area, Kingston, Jamaica and elsewhere.
Coke, when extradited, would have to defend the Federal authorities’ charges that members of the Shower Posse sold narcotics, including marijuana and crack cocaine, at his direction and on his behalf. According to the indictment, proceeds of the drug sales were sent to Coke in Jamaica, in the form of cash and/or goods.
Coke would also have to answer charges that members of his organization rely on him to assist them in their drug businesses in the United States and in other countries. Because of Coke’s international power and influence, Federal Agencies said he is able to provide protection to organization members involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, in the United States and elsewhere.
The Grand Jury indictment stated that organization members in the United States routinely seek Coke’s advice and approval for various matters relating to the sales of narcotics, including how to resolve conflicts with other organization members. It said that members of the organization commonly send cash and goods, including clothing and electronics to Coke, as “tribute” payments in recognition of his leadership and his assistance.
Apart from sending portions of proceeds from drug trafficking, members of the Shower Posse are accused of sending illegal firearms to the local wing in Jamaica. The Grand Jury was told that organization members purchased firearms in the United States and shipped those firearms to Jamaica. Once those firearms arrive in Jamaica, leaders of the local group decide how and to whom they would be distributed.
According to Federal authorities, the members of Coke’s organization, known as the “Shower Posse”, and also as “Presidential Click”, an organization based in Tivoli Gardens, other areas of Jamaica, and in other countries, including the United States were involved in trafficking.

Overt acts
The Grand Jury was presented with a number of instances where Coke was recorded talking to his cohorts about the distribution and sale of drugs and the movements of firearms.
In or about 1995, a co-conspirator not named as a defendant identified as (“CC-1”) during testimony sold crack cocaine in the Bronx, New York, that was carried to New York from Jamaica at the direction of Coke.
On April 3, 2007, Coke, the defendant, had a telephone conversation with three co–conspirators not named as a defendant herein (“CC-2,” “CC-3,” and “CC-4”) concerning firearms that CC-2 and CC-3 had delivered to CC-4 so that CC-4 could ship those firearms from the United States to Jamaica.
In another telephone conversation on or about April 11, 2007, Coke had a telephone conversation with CC-2 during which he discussed the terms of an arrangement whereby CC-2 would distribute marijuana for him in the New York area.
On April 12, 2007, Coke had a telephone conversation with a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein (“CC-S”) about the sale of marijuana pursuant to the arrangement discussed in paragraph c, above.
On April 21, 2007, Coke, the defendant, had a telephone conversation with a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein (“CC-6”), about handguns that CC-6 was trying to obtain in the United States, to be sent to Jamaica.
On May 8, 2007, the defendant had a telephone conversation with CC-S in and CC-S discussed the distribution of numerous firearms provided by CC-2, CC-3, and CC-4 that had recently arrived in Jamaica. On or about May 9, 2007, the defendant had a telephone conversation with CC-6 about CC-2’s attempt to collect a drug-related debt from another individual.
On or about May 10, 2007, CC-5 had a telephone conversation with CC-2 in which CC-5 requested that CC-2 send profits of his marijuana business to Jamaica for the organization and CC-2 asked CC-5 for help in collecting a drug debt from the individual referenced in paragraph g.
On June 21, 2007, two co–conspirators not namedas defendants herein (“CC-7” and “CC-8”) possessed approximately $239,985 in United States currency, given to them as payment for approximately 600 pounds of marijuana previously supplied to CC-2.
Up to press time, checks made with the Ministry of Justice reveal that the extradition order was not signed one week after the request was made.

http://www.sunheraldja.com/2009/09/dudus%e2%80%99-dilemma/

[Muadib]

Why wi cyaan get Billion a year like Mexico ???

[Yuttie]

More informative than the hacks (Observer) and shovels (Gleaner) of Jamaican journalist ever provided.