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1. Appoint 2 of 3 commissioners who are well known members of your tribe and will so act in its interest
2. Establish a limited scope of the Enquiry... which should be longer & rightly extend to evidentiary proceedings in the United States where the law firm is located
3. Establish rules which will limit participation & generation of evidence even locally
Driva......doan tap atall!!!!!!!!
Phillips laments short notice for submisison of evidence to 'Dudus' commission
Alicia Dunkley
Thursday, January 06, 2011
OPPOSITION Parliamentarian Dr Peter Phillips has raised concerns about the two-day window given to submit evidence to the Commission of Enquiry, which will begin its hearings into issues relating to the United States extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke on January 17.
Yesterday the Government said that the Commission — which had a preliminary hearing in December — will continue on January 17 at 10:00 am at which time it is expected that representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will be examined.
However, it said all persons who wish to assist the commission with evidence should send written statements, duly signed, to the secretary of the commission at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston by Friday, January 7.
But Phillips — the member of Parliament for St Andrew East Central who has been a key figure in agitating for more answers about the controversial affair — has branded the time slot "excessively restrictive".
"There seems to be a certain pattern that would seem to be excessively restrictive particularly in seeking the truth. Admittedly there can't be an open-ended procedure, which will allow the thing to drag on interminably and there must be some guidelines; but by the same token the public needs to be assured that what is being attempted is not a cover-up of facts but an attempt to secure information as to the truth," said Dr Phillips, who gave his views independently of the legal team assembled by the People's National Party (PNP).
According to Dr Phillips, it is hoped that the "kind of deadlines that have been sprung upon the public suddenly are not going to be applied in a way that closes off the possibility of wide participation from persons who may want to say something".
"It is to be seen what the position of the panel will be when they convene as to whether they intend to apply this rule as a measure to restrict participation or whether it will serve as a general guideline, but certainly two days notice does not seem to be adequate," he added.
He said if the Commission were to fulfil its objective of distilling the truth, "they need to give people adequate time" as many persons who were affected are from communities where getting access to legal representation may not be easily available.
In the meantime, Dr Phillips said he would not be averse to appearing before the Commission if summoned. He, however, said that the PNP has not been advised of any such development to date.
The commission will be chaired by Queen's Counsel Emil George, who will be assisted by Anthony Irons, a retired permanent secretary, and Queen's Counsel Donald Scharschmidt. The Government has earmarked approximately $40 million to fund the enquiry. The Commission is expected to conclude its hearings on February 28.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1AGLqvCpO
2. Establish a limited scope of the Enquiry... which should be longer & rightly extend to evidentiary proceedings in the United States where the law firm is located
3. Establish rules which will limit participation & generation of evidence even locally
Driva......doan tap atall!!!!!!!!
Phillips laments short notice for submisison of evidence to 'Dudus' commission
Alicia Dunkley
Thursday, January 06, 2011
OPPOSITION Parliamentarian Dr Peter Phillips has raised concerns about the two-day window given to submit evidence to the Commission of Enquiry, which will begin its hearings into issues relating to the United States extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke on January 17.
Yesterday the Government said that the Commission — which had a preliminary hearing in December — will continue on January 17 at 10:00 am at which time it is expected that representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will be examined.
However, it said all persons who wish to assist the commission with evidence should send written statements, duly signed, to the secretary of the commission at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston by Friday, January 7.
But Phillips — the member of Parliament for St Andrew East Central who has been a key figure in agitating for more answers about the controversial affair — has branded the time slot "excessively restrictive".
"There seems to be a certain pattern that would seem to be excessively restrictive particularly in seeking the truth. Admittedly there can't be an open-ended procedure, which will allow the thing to drag on interminably and there must be some guidelines; but by the same token the public needs to be assured that what is being attempted is not a cover-up of facts but an attempt to secure information as to the truth," said Dr Phillips, who gave his views independently of the legal team assembled by the People's National Party (PNP).
According to Dr Phillips, it is hoped that the "kind of deadlines that have been sprung upon the public suddenly are not going to be applied in a way that closes off the possibility of wide participation from persons who may want to say something".
"It is to be seen what the position of the panel will be when they convene as to whether they intend to apply this rule as a measure to restrict participation or whether it will serve as a general guideline, but certainly two days notice does not seem to be adequate," he added.
He said if the Commission were to fulfil its objective of distilling the truth, "they need to give people adequate time" as many persons who were affected are from communities where getting access to legal representation may not be easily available.
In the meantime, Dr Phillips said he would not be averse to appearing before the Commission if summoned. He, however, said that the PNP has not been advised of any such development to date.
The commission will be chaired by Queen's Counsel Emil George, who will be assisted by Anthony Irons, a retired permanent secretary, and Queen's Counsel Donald Scharschmidt. The Government has earmarked approximately $40 million to fund the enquiry. The Commission is expected to conclude its hearings on February 28.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1AGLqvCpO
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