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No 'Dudus', no ambassador?
US State Department denies playing hardball on extradition request
BY HAROLD G BAILEY Observer writer
Thursday, October 29, 2009
NEW YORK, USA - The US State Department yesterday denied reports surfacing here that the appointment of a new ambassador to Jamaica now hinges on the extradition of Christopher Coke, the reputed Tivoli Gardens don.
Breaking its long-held stance of not commenting on such matters, State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler told the Observer: "Given the significant publicity in respect of the issue, I feel obliged to advise that it has nothing to do with the appointment of a new ambassador."
Jamaica has been without a United States ambassador since January this year when the Barack Obama administration took office, and in recent weeks there have been reports out of New York that Washington would not name a replacement for Brenda LaGrange Johnson, the last ambassador to Kingston, until Coke is extradited to face trial in the US.
Coke has been indicted by a grand jury on allegations of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine and to illegally traffic in firearms.
In denying any link between the appointment of a new ambassador and the request to extradite Coke, Tischler noted that the request followed months of investigations by the Department of Justice.
"The body of evidence produced by these investigations is both detailed, compelling and credible," she said, adding that "Jamaica has been a critical partner in our joint efforts to combat drugs and weapons trafficking".
Asked whether the interests of the United States in Jamaica were being adversely affected by the absence of an ambassador, Tischler said that, as in other countries where there were no ambassadors, "the staff at the embassy in Kingston is capable of carrying out the duties there".
The US embassy in Kingston itself steered clear of confirming or denying the claims that the US will not name a new ambassador to Jamaica until Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, whom they want extradited, has been handed over to them.
Public Affairs Officer in the US embassy, Patricia Attkisson, when asked by the Observer to comment on the report, gave a brief, carefully worded response which appeared to neither confirm nor deny the claim.
"To date, the White House has not made an announcement regarding the assignment of a new US ambassador to Jamaica to replace former Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson," said Attkisson.
"The US embassy expects an announcement will be made in the near future and that the new ambassador will carry on the tradition of warm relations between the US and Jamaica," she said in her response which pre-dated the State Department statement.
Reached Tuesday at the White House which has responsibility for naming diplomatic staff, spokesman Ben Chang would only say that "the process which exists for appointing ambassadors is being followed".
And Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney was also non-commital when asked if the department was satisfied with the progress in the Coke extradition case, insisting that the department "does not comment on extradition matters until the person being sought is on US soil".
The case against Coke is being prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Sources there would not say if progress was being made in the case.
Jamaica recently asked the US authorities for more information on the extradition request and has followed up with further requests for clarification on the response, a move interpreted by some as a delaying tactic.
The State Department's Tischler confirmed that the US "is working with Jamaican authorities to address any concerns they may have with the extradition request".
For Jamaica's part, Ambassador to Washington Anthony Johnson said the Government had not been informed of any link between the naming of a new ambassador to Jamaica and the Coke extradition case.
The last ambassador to Jamaica, Brenda LaGrange Johnson, ended her four-year tour of duty nine months ago, giving credence in some quarters to the claim that it was being linked to the extradition, apparently to force Jamaica's hand.
But Observer checks showed that the length of time without an ambassador in Kingston is not unprecedented.
There were six months between Ambassadors Stanley McLelland (1998-2001) and Sue Cobb (2001-2005) and nine between Cobb and LaGrange Johnson (2005-2009). Between Ambassadors Holden (1989-1993) and Gary Cooper (1994-1997), chargé d'affaires Lacy Wright acted for more than a year.
Embassy sources also pointed out that the selection process for ambassadors was usually a long one involving Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks, congressional hearings (similar to that of Supreme Court judge appointees) and enrolment in the Foreign Service Institute for training.
And the Opposition People's National Party's Peter Phillips, a former security minister, said in a recent interview with Nationwide Radio that the Government was "clearly dawdling and trying to bide its time" on the extradition request.
He said the expedience with which 19 people were extradited last year and close to 20 who were also shipped out of the country so far this year, was in sharp contradiction to the "inordinate amount of time" the Government was taking to deal with the Coke extradition matter.
Said Phillips: "The basic procedures are well tried, tested and proven. The fact that these issues could have been raised with regard to procedural measures would be well surprising."
Phillips added that the Government's stalling on the issue could have adverse repercussions for the country.
"We have consistently asked the US Government to assist in stopping guns coming in and they have now indictment covering that and drugs. The treatment of this particular request has raised more questions about Jamaica's commitment to fighting transnational organised crime. It is certainly not doing anything to enhance Jamaica's reputation with our international partners," he argued.
- Additional reporting by Kimone Thompson and Karyl Walker in Kingston
No 'Dudus', no ambassador?
US State Department denies playing hardball on extradition request
BY HAROLD G BAILEY Observer writer
Thursday, October 29, 2009
NEW YORK, USA - The US State Department yesterday denied reports surfacing here that the appointment of a new ambassador to Jamaica now hinges on the extradition of Christopher Coke, the reputed Tivoli Gardens don.
Breaking its long-held stance of not commenting on such matters, State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler told the Observer: "Given the significant publicity in respect of the issue, I feel obliged to advise that it has nothing to do with the appointment of a new ambassador."
Jamaica has been without a United States ambassador since January this year when the Barack Obama administration took office, and in recent weeks there have been reports out of New York that Washington would not name a replacement for Brenda LaGrange Johnson, the last ambassador to Kingston, until Coke is extradited to face trial in the US.
Coke has been indicted by a grand jury on allegations of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine and to illegally traffic in firearms.
In denying any link between the appointment of a new ambassador and the request to extradite Coke, Tischler noted that the request followed months of investigations by the Department of Justice.
"The body of evidence produced by these investigations is both detailed, compelling and credible," she said, adding that "Jamaica has been a critical partner in our joint efforts to combat drugs and weapons trafficking".
Asked whether the interests of the United States in Jamaica were being adversely affected by the absence of an ambassador, Tischler said that, as in other countries where there were no ambassadors, "the staff at the embassy in Kingston is capable of carrying out the duties there".
The US embassy in Kingston itself steered clear of confirming or denying the claims that the US will not name a new ambassador to Jamaica until Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, whom they want extradited, has been handed over to them.
Public Affairs Officer in the US embassy, Patricia Attkisson, when asked by the Observer to comment on the report, gave a brief, carefully worded response which appeared to neither confirm nor deny the claim.
"To date, the White House has not made an announcement regarding the assignment of a new US ambassador to Jamaica to replace former Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson," said Attkisson.
"The US embassy expects an announcement will be made in the near future and that the new ambassador will carry on the tradition of warm relations between the US and Jamaica," she said in her response which pre-dated the State Department statement.
Reached Tuesday at the White House which has responsibility for naming diplomatic staff, spokesman Ben Chang would only say that "the process which exists for appointing ambassadors is being followed".
And Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney was also non-commital when asked if the department was satisfied with the progress in the Coke extradition case, insisting that the department "does not comment on extradition matters until the person being sought is on US soil".
The case against Coke is being prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Sources there would not say if progress was being made in the case.
Jamaica recently asked the US authorities for more information on the extradition request and has followed up with further requests for clarification on the response, a move interpreted by some as a delaying tactic.
The State Department's Tischler confirmed that the US "is working with Jamaican authorities to address any concerns they may have with the extradition request".
For Jamaica's part, Ambassador to Washington Anthony Johnson said the Government had not been informed of any link between the naming of a new ambassador to Jamaica and the Coke extradition case.
The last ambassador to Jamaica, Brenda LaGrange Johnson, ended her four-year tour of duty nine months ago, giving credence in some quarters to the claim that it was being linked to the extradition, apparently to force Jamaica's hand.
But Observer checks showed that the length of time without an ambassador in Kingston is not unprecedented.
There were six months between Ambassadors Stanley McLelland (1998-2001) and Sue Cobb (2001-2005) and nine between Cobb and LaGrange Johnson (2005-2009). Between Ambassadors Holden (1989-1993) and Gary Cooper (1994-1997), chargé d'affaires Lacy Wright acted for more than a year.
Embassy sources also pointed out that the selection process for ambassadors was usually a long one involving Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks, congressional hearings (similar to that of Supreme Court judge appointees) and enrolment in the Foreign Service Institute for training.
And the Opposition People's National Party's Peter Phillips, a former security minister, said in a recent interview with Nationwide Radio that the Government was "clearly dawdling and trying to bide its time" on the extradition request.
He said the expedience with which 19 people were extradited last year and close to 20 who were also shipped out of the country so far this year, was in sharp contradiction to the "inordinate amount of time" the Government was taking to deal with the Coke extradition matter.
Said Phillips: "The basic procedures are well tried, tested and proven. The fact that these issues could have been raised with regard to procedural measures would be well surprising."
Phillips added that the Government's stalling on the issue could have adverse repercussions for the country.
"We have consistently asked the US Government to assist in stopping guns coming in and they have now indictment covering that and drugs. The treatment of this particular request has raised more questions about Jamaica's commitment to fighting transnational organised crime. It is certainly not doing anything to enhance Jamaica's reputation with our international partners," he argued.
- Additional reporting by Kimone Thompson and Karyl Walker in Kingston