Oh no.. bad news for di alarmists..

[Muadib]

suh it guh...

"We have received the agrément (diplomatic speak for greenlight) for her appointment from the US Government," said a foreign ministry spokesman who was contacted by the Observer.
But the US State Department last night would not confirm the appointment from their end, saying only that it was awaiting Marks' credentials before giving its go-ahead."

No worries.. 2012 is around di cornah.. surely Drivah will not be able to handle dem deh bread a earthquake and Tsunami...

[Jawge]

so all is well I guess? My point exactly; don't have a clue about statesmanship and diplomacy.

[ReggaeMike]

I would prefer the term "realists" to alarmists since only a blind me would not see the massive conflict of interest in the whole Dudus affair and in any event Washington's acceptance or non-acceptance of Jamaica ambassador would have little relevance. The fact still remains that too many unusual things have happened that strongly suggest it is not coincidence:

1. The US requested the extradition of Dudus. Dudus' lawyer is a Jamaican Senator who is also in the JLP.

2. Golding (after a fair bit of time) said there were procedural problems with the request and asked for the identity of accusers (now even Golding can't be that naive to think that witnesses and accusers shouldn't be protected)

3. The US produced a report suggesting heavy corruption.

4. Golding shot back with a new claim that the wiretapping evidence was illegal (without even clarifying that the wiretap WAS authorized from before he took up office) but strangely despite the fact that US investigators can find evidence on the tape of illicit activities, the Jamaican government apparently can't find any grounds to so much as pursue further investigations.

5. The US still has not appointed an ambassador.

6. The US cancelled the visa of Wayne Chen. Wayne Chen runs the UDC. The UDC was one of a number of government entities to give Coke's company (Incomparable Enterprises Ltd) contracts. Chen claims that these contracts all occurred before he headed the UDC (in October 2008) yet in 2009 alone Incomparable got contracts for: transportation of cover materials from Bull Bay to extinguish a fire at the Riverton City landfill (January - $1.3m); repairs and waterproofing to the slab roofs along the Bustamante Highway section within the Tivoli Gardens housing scheme (July - $10.7m, given by Ministry of Housing); repairs to roofs at Levy Path and Seaga Boulevard in Tivoli Gardens (July - $21.3m, given by Ministry of Housing); leasing heavy duty equipment (August - $2.7m); building a monument to Shearer at National Heroes Circle (unknown date in 2009 - $4m to $6m) and in November 2008 it got a contract to refurbish Ward Theatre ($16.9m) and to repair the Tivoli Gully ($28m - awarded by NWA). All of this in addition to some $30m in contracts from the KSAC since 2003. Out of those contracts there are 4 for which the awarding entity hasn't been named and which could well have been the UDC after Chen became the head.

That the US government may sign off on the appointment (note the article said nothing to indicate that the US government actually would do it without any hint of doubt) is fairly low-key. After all what purpose does it serve to have a Jamaican ambassador to the US but no US ambassador to Jamaica? And it isn't like the US can't afford to send an ambassador to every tiny speck on the planet. So should Audrey Marks become the ambassador (and best of luck to her) then what? The US will drop the extradition request? No, all that will happen is that Jamaica will be able to lodge protests with the US government while the US continues to perpetuate the odd situation of not having an ambassador in Jamaica.

[Don1]

I would prefer the term "realists" to alarmists since only a blind me would not see the massive conflict of interest in the whole Dudus affair and in any event Washington's acceptance or non-acceptance of Jamaica ambassador would have little relevance. The fact still remains that too many unusual things have happened that strongly suggest it is not coincidence:

1. The US requested the extradition of Dudus. Dudus' lawyer is a Jamaican Senator who is also in the JLP.

2. Golding (after a fair bit of time) said there were procedural problems with the request and asked for the identity of accusers (now even Golding can't be that naive to think that witnesses and accusers shouldn't be protected)

3. The US produced a report suggesting heavy corruption.

4. Golding shot back with a new claim that the wiretapping evidence was illegal (without even clarifying that the wiretap WAS authorized from before he took up office) but strangely despite the fact that US investigators can find evidence on the tape of illicit activities, the Jamaican government apparently can't find any grounds to so much as pursue further investigations.

5. The US still has not appointed an ambassador.

6. The US cancelled the visa of Wayne Chen. Wayne Chen runs the UDC. The UDC was one of a number of government entities to give Coke's company (Incomparable Enterprises Ltd) contracts. Chen claims that these contracts all occurred before he headed the UDC (in October 2008) yet in 2009 alone Incomparable got contracts for: transportation of cover materials from Bull Bay to extinguish a fire at the Riverton City landfill (January - $1.3m); repairs and waterproofing to the slab roofs along the Bustamante Highway section within the Tivoli Gardens housing scheme (July - $10.7m, given by Ministry of Housing); repairs to roofs at Levy Path and Seaga Boulevard in Tivoli Gardens (July - $21.3m, given by Ministry of Housing); leasing heavy duty equipment (August - $2.7m); building a monument to Shearer at National Heroes Circle (unknown date in 2009 - $4m to $6m) and in November 2008 it got a contract to refurbish Ward Theatre ($16.9m) and to repair the Tivoli Gully ($28m - awarded by NWA). All of this in addition to some $30m in contracts from the KSAC since 2003. Out of those contracts there are 4 for which the awarding entity hasn't been named and which could well have been the UDC after Chen became the head.

That the US government may sign off on the appointment (note the article said nothing to indicate that the US government actually would do it without any hint of doubt) is fairly low-key. After all what purpose does it serve to have a Jamaican ambassador to the US but no US ambassador to Jamaica? And it isn't like the US can't afford to send an ambassador to every tiny speck on the planet. So should Audrey Marks become the ambassador (and best of luck to her) then what? The US will drop the extradition request? No, all that will happen is that Jamaica will be able to lodge protests with the US government while the US continues to perpetuate the odd situation of not having an ambassador in Jamaica.

You will find in time that Chemical Ali is entirely impervious to logic, facts and good judgment.

Just trying to shorten your learning curve. LOL!!

[Muadib]

I would prefer the term "realists" to alarmists since only a blind me would not see the massive conflict of interest in the whole Dudus affair and in any event Washington's acceptance or non-acceptance of Jamaica ambassador would have little relevance. The fact still remains that too many unusual things have happened that strongly suggest it is not coincidence:

1. The US requested the extradition of Dudus. Dudus' lawyer is a Jamaican Senator who is also in the JLP.

2. Golding (after a fair bit of time) said there were procedural problems with the request and asked for the identity of accusers (now even Golding can't be that naive to think that witnesses and accusers shouldn't be protected)

3. The US produced a report suggesting heavy corruption.

4. Golding shot back with a new claim that the wiretapping evidence was illegal (without even clarifying that the wiretap WAS authorized from before he took up office) but strangely despite the fact that US investigators can find evidence on the tape of illicit activities, the Jamaican government apparently can't find any grounds to so much as pursue further investigations.

5. The US still has not appointed an ambassador.

6. The US cancelled the visa of Wayne Chen. Wayne Chen runs the UDC. The UDC was one of a number of government entities to give Coke's company (Incomparable Enterprises Ltd) contracts. Chen claims that these contracts all occurred before he headed the UDC (in October 2008) yet in 2009 alone Incomparable got contracts for: transportation of cover materials from Bull Bay to extinguish a fire at the Riverton City landfill (January - $1.3m); repairs and waterproofing to the slab roofs along the Bustamante Highway section within the Tivoli Gardens housing scheme (July - $10.7m, given by Ministry of Housing); repairs to roofs at Levy Path and Seaga Boulevard in Tivoli Gardens (July - $21.3m, given by Ministry of Housing); leasing heavy duty equipment (August - $2.7m); building a monument to Shearer at National Heroes Circle (unknown date in 2009 - $4m to $6m) and in November 2008 it got a contract to refurbish Ward Theatre ($16.9m) and to repair the Tivoli Gully ($28m - awarded by NWA). All of this in addition to some $30m in contracts from the KSAC since 2003. Out of those contracts there are 4 for which the awarding entity hasn't been named and which could well have been the UDC after Chen became the head.

That the US government may sign off on the appointment (note the article said nothing to indicate that the US government actually would do it without any hint of doubt) is fairly low-key. After all what purpose does it serve to have a Jamaican ambassador to the US but no US ambassador to Jamaica? And it isn't like the US can't afford to send an ambassador to every tiny speck on the planet. So should Audrey Marks become the ambassador (and best of luck to her) then what? The US will drop the extradition request? No, all that will happen is that Jamaica will be able to lodge protests with the US government while the US continues to perpetuate the odd situation of not having an ambassador in Jamaica.

All very nice however the point of my post was to posit that maybe the sky is not falling.

Speculation is rampant and merely fodder for front porch chatter and nice press.

Somehow I do not believe that 'Dudus' is going to prevent normal diplomatic relations between the USA and Jamaica to continue merrily along.. money talks.. the jousting is fun but Drivah mek him stance clear to the USA... di man seh him willing to suffer the political consequence.. dem might call him bluff.. I doubt it... why ?.. over some bruised ego.. I think not...

Mi hear China Development Bank have more money dan di IMF..

However let me not spoil the fun... carry on.. just remember to pace yourselves.. it gwine be a long trek..

lol !