The Fix is in: JLP Tribalist to head Manatt Inquiry

[Don1]

Emil lands Dudus probe
Published: Wednesday | October 20, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
George

Gary Spaulding and Philip Hamilton, Senior Gleaner Writers

George, well known for his long association with the Jamaica Labour Party, has been appointed chairman of a three-man commission of enquiry to examine the issues related to the extradition request for former west Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, and the circumstances under which United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips was retained.

Making the announcement in the House of Representatives yesterday, Golding said the other two members of the committee were retired permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Anthony Irons, and attorney-at-law David Scharchmidt.

In a statement to Parliament, Golding said he had dispatched a note to this effect to Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller earlier in the day.

However, Simpson Miller, while welcoming the naming of the commission, expressed disappointment over what she described as Golding's non-consultation with the Opposition and other stakeholders regarding the commission's selection.

Not possible

Golding, acknowledging that he had given an undertaking last week to consult the Opposition, said it was not possible to have done it before "because the membership as we had proposed was only concluded this morning".

He added: "I should point out that the membership of the commission was the subject of intense discussions with the proposed chairman of the commission."

George, a reputable attorney, was appointed as an independent senator by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga in the aftermath of the 1983 uncontested elections.

Seaga had appointed eight persons to sit on the Opposition benches after the People's National Party boycotted the 1983 snap election that he had called.

George was appointed on the Appeals Tribunal of the Ministry of Education in 1981, soon after Seaga won the 1980 general election.

Four-month deadline

George and his team have been given four months to do their work, which includes making a detailed report to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen by February 28, 2011.

Golding told Parliament that, among its responsibilities, he has instructed the commission to look into the circumstances in which Manatt's services were engaged in relation to any or all of the matters involved in the handling of the extradition request for Coke, by whom they were engaged and on whose behalf they were authorised to act.

Those questions have been a source of controversy as Golding has struggled to convince the nation that it was the JLP and not the Government that engaged the US law firm.

The commission is to ascertain whether there was any misconduct on the part of any person in any of the relevant matters and, if so, has been authorised to make recommendations for the referral of such persons to the relevant authority or disciplinary body for appropriate action.

[Rudi]

You expected different.

[Hortical]

There should be an independent bipartisan inquiry. One person from each JLP/PNP and another named by the business community.

[Don1]

Suh yuh want the JLPNP/Big Business power matrix fi control dat??

Dat backward..

[Don1]

Guess not..

[Gamma]

i am not being facetious at all with this question....how would you propose that that the tribunal be consituted?

[Reggaedoc]

One person from academia, most likely law faculty, one person from the clergy, and one person from the business sector. All of whom are known to be politically neutral, at least publicly, and who would be acceptable to the opposition. If that doesn't work then get a 4-person panel, two exparliamentarians from each party.

[Karl]

One person from academia, most likely law faculty, one person from the clergy, and one person from the business sector. All of whom are known to be politically neutral, at least publicly, and who would be acceptable to the opposition. If that doesn't work then get a 4-person panel, two exparliamentarians from each party.

Good proposals!
...or should I have said, "Interesting proposals"?

[Gamma]

who would constitute it? i tend to agree that it is a biased tribunal (well portia kinda give 2 of 3 the three a pass..not sure which 2).

i think each party nominates one person and then the third is nominated from a concerned civic group (if it has to be 3...i favour 5 myself...one from the clergy nominated by the JCC, one from the PSOJ and one from academia as suggested.)

[Muadib]

Karl.. what do you think about the inquiry into the FINSAC ting..

[Me]

One person from academia, most likely law faculty, one person from the clergy, and one person from the business sector. All of whom are known to be politically neutral, at least publicly, and who would be acceptable to the opposition. If that doesn't work then get a 4-person panel, two exparliamentarians from each party.

That will not help a thing, cause almost all the prominent church people or people from UWI/UTECH have a strong JLP/PNP connection or strong connection to some of the people who could be implicated.

[Hortical]

Well yuh need fi come up with a recommendation. Yuh haffi include the business community and the representative nuh haffi come from big business.

[Lazie]

No matter who is on the commission people gonna complain. Sorry Don1, yuh cannot have Portia, Peter and Ronnie on the commission.

[Mosiah]

the least the prime minister could have done was to decide along with the opposition. he promised so to do, but we all should know better about Bruce keeping his word.

[Lazie]

the least the prime minister could have done was to decide along with the opposition. he promised so to do, but we all should know better about Bruce keeping his word.

Which Opposition? The same one who has been playing the role of obstructionist since Sept 07? Chances are today there would be a back and forth as to who should be on the team.