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Gov't won't rush 'Dudus' process
Opposition chided for playing 'politics' with US extradition request
Thursday, September 10, 2009
IN its first public comment on the troubling request by the United States for the extradition of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the Government yesterday lashed the Opposition for playing "politics" with the issue.
"The question of making a call for the prime minister's intervention smacks of politics," Information Minister Daryl Vaz told journalists at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Vaz's comment broke the noticeable silence of the Bruce Golding administration as public disquiet mounted about what could result from extraditing the influential Coke, or the fallout from not complying with the treaty.
His reference was to the former minister of national security, Peter Phillips who chided Golding for his silence, saying that a comment should be forthcoming from the prime minister.
Vaz dismissed that call as "politics", adding that there were no extraditions in previous times where a prime minister was asked to intervene or comment.
"It is a very sensitive matter and it is being dealt with through the protocols that are established," he remarked, saying that the matter was with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's Department. "It is a case for them to deal with," he insisted.
"No amount of calls either by the private sector or the Opposition is going to rush that process," the information minister declared.
Coke wields his enormous power from Tivoli Gardens, the well-known JLP enclave in Golding's west Kingston constituency.
Last week, the US issued a request for the extradition of Coke, charging that he was wanted in that country for arms and drugs trafficking.
But Vaz yesterday countered that protocol had to be observed and at the time of decision everything would have been weighed so that justice and due process was seen to be done.
Another cabinet minister who asked not to be named, told the Observer that he was dismayed that Jamaicans were so willing to take away the right of another Jamaican without due process.
"No matter what we may think of an individual, he or she is entitled to due process under the laws of Jamaica. Mr Coke is no less a citizen of Jamaica and is no less entitled to have his rights upheld. No American could be extradited in breach of US law and constitution," the minister said.
Opposition chided for playing 'politics' with US extradition request
Thursday, September 10, 2009
IN its first public comment on the troubling request by the United States for the extradition of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the Government yesterday lashed the Opposition for playing "politics" with the issue.
"The question of making a call for the prime minister's intervention smacks of politics," Information Minister Daryl Vaz told journalists at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Vaz's comment broke the noticeable silence of the Bruce Golding administration as public disquiet mounted about what could result from extraditing the influential Coke, or the fallout from not complying with the treaty.
His reference was to the former minister of national security, Peter Phillips who chided Golding for his silence, saying that a comment should be forthcoming from the prime minister.
Vaz dismissed that call as "politics", adding that there were no extraditions in previous times where a prime minister was asked to intervene or comment.
"It is a very sensitive matter and it is being dealt with through the protocols that are established," he remarked, saying that the matter was with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's Department. "It is a case for them to deal with," he insisted.
"No amount of calls either by the private sector or the Opposition is going to rush that process," the information minister declared.
Coke wields his enormous power from Tivoli Gardens, the well-known JLP enclave in Golding's west Kingston constituency.
Last week, the US issued a request for the extradition of Coke, charging that he was wanted in that country for arms and drugs trafficking.
But Vaz yesterday countered that protocol had to be observed and at the time of decision everything would have been weighed so that justice and due process was seen to be done.
Another cabinet minister who asked not to be named, told the Observer that he was dismayed that Jamaicans were so willing to take away the right of another Jamaican without due process.
"No matter what we may think of an individual, he or she is entitled to due process under the laws of Jamaica. Mr Coke is no less a citizen of Jamaica and is no less entitled to have his rights upheld. No American could be extradited in breach of US law and constitution," the minister said.