Tweet
Seeking Mr. Coke
From Monday's Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Apr. 05, 2010 12:00AM EDT Last updated on Friday, Apr. 09, 2010 3:07AM EDT
The refusal of Jamaica's Prime Minister to extradite a man Washington describes as one of the world's "most dangerous" drug kingpins is unwise. Up until now, the Caribbean island of 2.7 million has won praise from the U.S. for its co-operation in signing off on extradition requests for those who face charges for serious crimes, helping to build the country's reputation as an ally in the hemispheric battle against drug trafficking and gang-led violent crime.
However, the stalling over the August, 2009 request to extradite Christopher "Dudus" Coke has caused a rift in the relationship with Washington. The incident threatens to expose political corruption in the government of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, underscoring the reality that criminal gangs and politics are still linked in Jamaica, as the two main political parties rely on "garrison dons" or heads of urban communities to produce votes during elections.
The Coke incident has prompted the U.S. State Department to question Jamaica's commitment to law enforcement co-operation. In its Narcotics Control Strategy Report, U.S. officials said corruption in Jamaica is a barrier to improving counter-narcotics efforts and note Mr. Coke has "reported ties" to the ruling party.
The 41-year-old is known as the garrison boss of the Tivoli Gardens neighbourhood in west Kingston, a stronghold of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, and the home constituency of Mr. Golding.
His family has long and deep connections to the criminal world. Two of his brothers and a sister have been shot dead over the years, either in police shoot-outs or by gang members. His father was a leader of the Shower Posse, a gang Mr. Coke is now accused of running.
And yet Mr. Golding argues that there is insufficient credible evidence to substantiate the drugs and weapons charges laid against Mr. Coke in New York, and that wiretap evidence against him was obtained illegally. The Prime Minister wants to know the identity of the Jamaican police officer who gave the U.S. the intercepted communication - which in Jamaica is a crime. However, Washington won't disclose the name of the police officer, and has asked that the extradition request be placed before the Jamaican courts - something Mr. Golding has refused to do.
In a major address in 2007, Mr. Golding pledged to tackle crime and corruption - the island's two most significant social problems. Three years later, his government's ambitious initiatives remain stalled in Parliament, and five anti-crime proposals have yet to be debated. The Jamaican government must act now and turn the extradition request for Mr. Coke over to the courts.
From Monday's Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Apr. 05, 2010 12:00AM EDT Last updated on Friday, Apr. 09, 2010 3:07AM EDT
The refusal of Jamaica's Prime Minister to extradite a man Washington describes as one of the world's "most dangerous" drug kingpins is unwise. Up until now, the Caribbean island of 2.7 million has won praise from the U.S. for its co-operation in signing off on extradition requests for those who face charges for serious crimes, helping to build the country's reputation as an ally in the hemispheric battle against drug trafficking and gang-led violent crime.
However, the stalling over the August, 2009 request to extradite Christopher "Dudus" Coke has caused a rift in the relationship with Washington. The incident threatens to expose political corruption in the government of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, underscoring the reality that criminal gangs and politics are still linked in Jamaica, as the two main political parties rely on "garrison dons" or heads of urban communities to produce votes during elections.
The Coke incident has prompted the U.S. State Department to question Jamaica's commitment to law enforcement co-operation. In its Narcotics Control Strategy Report, U.S. officials said corruption in Jamaica is a barrier to improving counter-narcotics efforts and note Mr. Coke has "reported ties" to the ruling party.
The 41-year-old is known as the garrison boss of the Tivoli Gardens neighbourhood in west Kingston, a stronghold of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, and the home constituency of Mr. Golding.
His family has long and deep connections to the criminal world. Two of his brothers and a sister have been shot dead over the years, either in police shoot-outs or by gang members. His father was a leader of the Shower Posse, a gang Mr. Coke is now accused of running.
And yet Mr. Golding argues that there is insufficient credible evidence to substantiate the drugs and weapons charges laid against Mr. Coke in New York, and that wiretap evidence against him was obtained illegally. The Prime Minister wants to know the identity of the Jamaican police officer who gave the U.S. the intercepted communication - which in Jamaica is a crime. However, Washington won't disclose the name of the police officer, and has asked that the extradition request be placed before the Jamaican courts - something Mr. Golding has refused to do.
In a major address in 2007, Mr. Golding pledged to tackle crime and corruption - the island's two most significant social problems. Three years later, his government's ambitious initiatives remain stalled in Parliament, and five anti-crime proposals have yet to be debated. The Jamaican government must act now and turn the extradition request for Mr. Coke over to the courts.
Comment