Ignorance is bliss?

[ReggaeMike]

These conflicting statements keep coming hard and fast. A compilation would have to be done just to keep up:

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...ead/lead2.html

Ask The JLP
Published: Thursday | May 13, 20100 Comments and 0 Reactions
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

THE BRUCE Golding administration yesterday retreated behind the bright green cover of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) as it came under increasing public pressure over its handling of the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair.

With the airwaves bombarded with criticisms of the prime minister over his belated admission of his role in..

Now this part of that story is what caught my attention:

"As far as I'm concerned, the prime minister did what he had to do, and the fact is that those who are calling for the prime minister to resign and for the Government to resign have no moral authority to call for anybody to resign based on their past and their history," added Vaz.

He argued that even as the JLP deputy treasurer, he would not necessarily know who paid the US$50,000 to Manatt, and pointed to the prime minister's claim that the money came from financial contributors to the party.

Vaz also indicated that the decision to contract Manatt had been considered by the party's central executive, which is its highest decision-making body outside of the annual conference.

"You are carrying me into areas which I have no knowledge of and I would suggest that you pose those questions to the relevant ministers or the party officials," said Vaz in response to questions about the role of Attorney General and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne in the affair.

Isn't it odd that the deputy treasurer of an organization wouldn't necessarily anything much about J$4.4 million that changed hands?

Vaz's latest also brings up questions about Golding's last statement:

http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=19232

Mr. Brady’s contacts referred him to the firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, a highly reputable US law firm, which offered to assist on a professional, retainer basis. Mr. Brady’s firm retained Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in October of last year to pursue discussions with relevant officials of the US government. A payment of US$49,892.62 was made to Manatt, Phelps & Phillips on September 18th 2009. These funds were sourced from financial contributors to the Party. Rumours and speculation carried in the media that these funds were provided by Christopher Coke are completely false as the Party is fully aware of the source of these funds.

I guess not everyone is the Party is fully aware of the source of these funds, or rather to paraphrase Vaz, not necessarily aware of the source of these funds.

Both these statements also bring up the question of how the money changed hands. If undisclosed "members of the JLP" approached Brady (another JLP member) and Brady thought of using Manatt and Golding (as leader of the JLP) "sanctioned the initiative" while supposedly making it clear "that this was an initiative to be undertaken by the Party, not by or on behalf of the Government" then how did the money reach Manatt without passing through the hands of the JLP if the money was "sourced from financial contributors to the Party"? Surely that means they contributed money to the JLP for the JLP to then use otherwise they wouldn't be financial contributors to the JLP would they?

I guess Vaz is just taking out an insurance card so he can claim plausible deniability.

[Mosiah]

the lies, half-truths and deception continue. yet Karl Saumda is saying the situation is unfortunate and Vaz is saying the PM (or is it the JLP leader?) was honest and forthright. At least Samuda is sounding humble and penitent about the whole thing but Vaz continues with his brash, arrogant, disgusting self.

The JLP is standing behind it's leader on this issue and for that reason the entire govt must resign.

[ReggaeMike]

Well in the Observer they report:

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...hright_7607990

Meanwhile, Vaz yesterday reiterated the JLP's position that the US$50,000 retainer was funded by party supporters and financial backers, but said he did not know their names.

Which pretty much amounts to the saying that Party as a whole is not fully aware of the source of the funds, contrary to Bruce's statement. And since Vaz doesn't know their names doesn't this potentially set up a conflict with Golding's assertion that Coke wasn't the one who paid it and the Party is fully aware of the source of the funds?

Plus what if it was an employee or employees of Coke's company, Incomparable Enterprises? Or some poor saps from various big businesses who paid over money during the election campaign?

[Mosiah]

i am sure there are many contributors to the JLP who are upset that their money was used for this purpose. will they continue to fund liars and deceivers of no mean order?

[Rudi]

Me just de yah a watch. As I have said beore I now serously queston this man's sanity and moreso his suporters n this issue. Well the One Don warned us but hat's a story for another time.

[Rudi]

keyboard problems. Hope you get my meaning.

[Gamma]

or maybe is just ONE supporter and contributor!