Tweet
Opposition raises more questions about Manatt issue
Tuesday, 06 April 2010
Former National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips is turning up the heat on the government to come clean to the people of Jamaica about the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips issue in which the US law firm was hired to represent Jamaica in trade and extradition issues.
The People's National Party's lead spokesman on the issue, Dr. Phillips has raised questions as to who was really being represented by the law firm with news surfacing that Manatt, Phelps and Phillips was hired to lobby the U.S government to ease the pressure on Jamaica to hand over Tivoli strongman Christopher "Dudus" Coke.
Dr. Phillips is insisting the government needs to come clean to the people of Jamaica on the matter, claiming he has some information but is awaiting incontrovertible evidence before going public with it.
"But we still believe that the government of Jamaica needs to be clear and honest too with the country and with all the people of Jamaica who are paying for the missteps of the Government of Jamaica," he said.
Dr. Phillips says he has heard of three Cabinet
ministers who were engaged in the discussions where Manatt, Phelps and Phillips was hired to carry out the lobby.
Questions have been raised about whether it is the same three ministers reported to be under probe by the New York
Grand Jury for blocking information on the "Dudus" matter.
The role of the Solicitor General
Image
Douglas Leys, Solicitor General.
That apart, Dr. Phillips continues to raise questions over the Solicitor General's participation in the hiring of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips.
"It is very unusual, most unusual for a Solicitor General to invite persons who have no particular contractual arrangement as he is claiming into a private meeting on a sensitive matter with another government. That is unheard of, it is unprecedented as far as I know," Dr. Phillips said.
As for the Prime Minister, Mr. Golding has declared that the government never hired the firm.
But Manatt, Phelps and Phillips insists in filings with the U.S. Department of Justice that it was hired by the government of Jamaica and has already received US$50,000 out of an agreed-on US$100,000 per quarter fee.
The Prime Minister has said it was not the government who paid.
"If the government of Jamaica did not pay, who paid? Who was the real client of Mr. Brady, who was the real client of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips? Who was actually paying for this lobbying effort in which the Government of Jamaica collaborated," Dr. Phillips said.
He reiterates that he has his suspicions, but remained mum on the details, choosing to hold off on saying more until the information becomes clearer.
Tuesday, 06 April 2010
Former National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips is turning up the heat on the government to come clean to the people of Jamaica about the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips issue in which the US law firm was hired to represent Jamaica in trade and extradition issues.
The People's National Party's lead spokesman on the issue, Dr. Phillips has raised questions as to who was really being represented by the law firm with news surfacing that Manatt, Phelps and Phillips was hired to lobby the U.S government to ease the pressure on Jamaica to hand over Tivoli strongman Christopher "Dudus" Coke.
Dr. Phillips is insisting the government needs to come clean to the people of Jamaica on the matter, claiming he has some information but is awaiting incontrovertible evidence before going public with it.
"But we still believe that the government of Jamaica needs to be clear and honest too with the country and with all the people of Jamaica who are paying for the missteps of the Government of Jamaica," he said.
Dr. Phillips says he has heard of three Cabinet
ministers who were engaged in the discussions where Manatt, Phelps and Phillips was hired to carry out the lobby.
Questions have been raised about whether it is the same three ministers reported to be under probe by the New York
Grand Jury for blocking information on the "Dudus" matter.
The role of the Solicitor General
Image
Douglas Leys, Solicitor General.
That apart, Dr. Phillips continues to raise questions over the Solicitor General's participation in the hiring of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips.
"It is very unusual, most unusual for a Solicitor General to invite persons who have no particular contractual arrangement as he is claiming into a private meeting on a sensitive matter with another government. That is unheard of, it is unprecedented as far as I know," Dr. Phillips said.
As for the Prime Minister, Mr. Golding has declared that the government never hired the firm.
But Manatt, Phelps and Phillips insists in filings with the U.S. Department of Justice that it was hired by the government of Jamaica and has already received US$50,000 out of an agreed-on US$100,000 per quarter fee.
The Prime Minister has said it was not the government who paid.
"If the government of Jamaica did not pay, who paid? Who was the real client of Mr. Brady, who was the real client of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips? Who was actually paying for this lobbying effort in which the Government of Jamaica collaborated," Dr. Phillips said.
He reiterates that he has his suspicions, but remained mum on the details, choosing to hold off on saying more until the information becomes clearer.
Comment