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Law Firm Adamant It Represented Jamaica
Law Firm Adamant It Represented Jamaica
Published: Thursday | August 26, 20100 Comments and 0 Reactions
The United States law firm at the centre of the controversy surrounding the Bruce Golding administration continues to maintain that it was retained by and represented the Jamaican Government.
International publication AM Law Daily yesterday received the first reaction from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to the email exposé published by The Sunday Gleaner.
According to AM Law Daily, Manatt's general counsel, Monte Lemann, reiterated the company's long-held position, despite the Jamaican Government's rejection of its claim.
"While we will not discuss the specific content or authenticity of the (Gleaner) emails, from what you have told us they are in line with what the firm has maintained all along - as stated in our FARA filings, Manatt was engaged by the Government of Jamaica to assist with existing political and economic matters, including existing treaty agreements between Jamaica and the US," Lemann reportedly wrote in his response to the publication.
Conflicting arguments
Manatt's position is in conflict with the Bruce Golding administration, which has repeatedly challenged anyone to produce proof that it engaged the law firm.
The law firm is also maintaining that it was not retained to deal specifically with the extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, even though all the emails received by The Gleaner through the Access to Information Act show the former Tivoli Gardens strongman as the central figure in the discussions.
"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," Lemann reportedly added.
arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com
Published: Thursday | August 26, 20100 Comments and 0 Reactions
The United States law firm at the centre of the controversy surrounding the Bruce Golding administration continues to maintain that it was retained by and represented the Jamaican Government.
International publication AM Law Daily yesterday received the first reaction from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to the email exposé published by The Sunday Gleaner.
According to AM Law Daily, Manatt's general counsel, Monte Lemann, reiterated the company's long-held position, despite the Jamaican Government's rejection of its claim.
"While we will not discuss the specific content or authenticity of the (Gleaner) emails, from what you have told us they are in line with what the firm has maintained all along - as stated in our FARA filings, Manatt was engaged by the Government of Jamaica to assist with existing political and economic matters, including existing treaty agreements between Jamaica and the US," Lemann reportedly wrote in his response to the publication.
Conflicting arguments
Manatt's position is in conflict with the Bruce Golding administration, which has repeatedly challenged anyone to produce proof that it engaged the law firm.
The law firm is also maintaining that it was not retained to deal specifically with the extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, even though all the emails received by The Gleaner through the Access to Information Act show the former Tivoli Gardens strongman as the central figure in the discussions.
"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," Lemann reportedly added.
arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com
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