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Messy Manatt maze
Published: Thursday | May 20, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
On May 17, Prime Minister Bruce Golding insisted that he spoke truthfully on March 16, in response to questions relating to the engagement of the law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, when he stated "the Government of Jamaica has not engaged any legal firm, any consultant, any entity whatsoever in relation to any extradition matter other than deploying the resources that are available within the Attorney-General's Department." However, that statement was not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Golding cannot maintain that he spoke truthfully while saying he should have said more of the truth.
In addition, to prove that there is no contract between the Government of Jamaica and the Manatt firm, the prime minister needs to show a letter from him to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and from the JLP to Manatt and from Manatt to the JLP. We also need to see the emails between the solicitor general and Manatt because that also could provide evidence whether the prime minister's March 16 statement is true.
Additionally, it was not only the resources of the attorney general's office that were used. Manatt was also deployed. Once a Manatt lawyer was at a bilateral meeting, the lawyer must be counsel and in the employ of the Government of Jamaica.
One day after the PM's national broadcast, Manatt general counsel Monte Lemann II said the firm "did not represent Mr Coke nor were we retained to deal with the Coke matter. In our contract signed by Mr Brady, he acknowledges that he was authorised to contract with Manatt on behalf of the Jamaican government. We facilitated meetings between representatives of the US and Jamaican governments in their official capacities; and we had formal communications with Jamaican government representatives related to our representation." Am Law Daily, leading source of news for lawyers in the United States (Tuesday May 18). If this statement is true, how comes the JLP was paying for these legal services? This new revelation means that Golding is still not going for broke.
Self-incriminating evidence
For two months, I had not commented on the Manatt affair because I could not understand this messy Manatt maze, but the PM's wife has helped me. Mrs Golding is reported to have said that everything cannot be stated and we must read between the lines. This statement would mean that if Golding were to tell the whole truth, it could be self-incriminating evidence and that is not fair to him. It is, therefore, in everybody's best interest that he resigns and sort out his grievous, damaging errors to himself, the JLP, the Government and Jamaicans.
Mr PM, when you were in Opposition you were the only politician who wrote to me, congratulating me on my daughter's academic success. I still treasure that letter. You might recall that after you were elected as JLP leader and about to enter the West Kingston constituency, I suggested respectfully and diplomatically that you should not accept that seat. I think my advice was correct. From October 16, 2009 I wrote "Let 'Dudus' have his day in Court." If you had followed my advice seven months ago then the country would have been better off. On April 8, in an article 'Golding vs Golding' I said do not take the declaration matter to court. My advice was again correct. Therefore, based on my track record in giving you good advice, I suggest you ask Dr Ken Baugh to be the prime minister and allow him to appoint an independent commission to investigate the Manatt scandal, allowing the police to investigate for fraud, obstruction of justice, money laundering etc.
Colin Campbell resigned over Trafigura, and P.J. Patterson resigned because of the Shell waiver scandal. This is a model to follow.
Golding's apology is good but it's only a start. If someone has raped then he ought to apologise but it does not absolve him of charges being laid. In the Bible it states that when a Christian has committed grievous sin he/she should be cut from the fellowship. (Matthew 18: 17 & 1 Corinthians 5: 4-5)
Based on Golding's presentation, he holds only himself responsible. Therefore, no one will resign, no one fired and no one will face criminal charges. That is a totally unacceptable response to this messy Manatt maze.
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