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If it is true that the security minister did not know that the crime boss had an office in Tivoli then it means that the security forces failed to supply the minister with intel about Dudus.
Nelson reiterates not knowing 'Dudus'
BY TANESHA MUNDLE Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, February 25, 2011
<A href="mailto:?subject="Nelson reiterates not knowing " JamaicaObserver.com? - Online News Jamaican | Nelson-reiterates-not-knowing--Dudus-_8427901 news www.jamaicaobserver.com http: Dudus??&body="Link:">
MINISTER of national security Senator Dwight Nelson yesterday reiterated that he did not personally know former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and pointed out that his denial had nothing to do with fear of the alleged drug lord and his organisation as was suggested by an attorney.
Nelson gave the response after Linton Gordon, the attorney representing the Jamaica Defence Force, made the suggestion at yesterday's sitting of the commission of enquiry into the Government's handling of the United States' extradition request for Coke at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.
"Chairman... I did not deny the existence of the man. I said quite clearly that I was aware of his existence. I knew of reports in both the print and the electronic media of his activities. I had intelligence reports from the law enforcement agencies so I was aware of his existence. I said I did not know him," said an obviously irritated Nelson.
Gordon also suggested that Nelson was lying when he denied expressing a concern to former police commissioner, Rear Admiral Hardly Lewin, that Coke's extradition could bring down the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government.
However, the minister responded: "Your suggestion is wrong, totally, completely, unadulteratedly wrong."
Queen's Counsel Patrick Atkinson, representing Dr Peter Phillips, also grilled Nelson on his knowledge of Coke and even suggested that Nelson knew Coke's family.
However, Nelson said that he did not know Coke's mother but had seen his father once at the office of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union.
Nelson also testified that he did not know that Coke spent most of his time in Tivoli Gardens — a JLP stronghold — as he could have spent time in any of the other communities in West Kingston.
Under further cross-examination from Atkinson, Nelson said that he was not aware that Coke's Presidential Click office was located in West Kingston until after the May 2010 security forces' operation in Tivoli.
Nelson also told the enquiry that he was not aware that copies of the extradition request had been found inside Coke's Presidential Click office.
At one point during his cross-examination Nelson accused Dr Phillips, the former national security minister, of hiding the two secret Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) he signed with US and UK authorities in 2004 at the JDF headquarters in St Andrew.
The MOUs give local and foreign law enforcement agencies the right to intercept all landline and cellphone conversations on Cable and Wireless (now LIME) and Digicel switches in an effort to gather intelligence in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime under a programme named Operation ANTHEM.
However, critics have said that they trample on the rights of Jamaicans and Phillips has taken flak for signing the documents without the knowledge of the Cabinet and then Prime Minister PJ Patterson.
On another matter, the commissioners rejected a request from Queen's Counsel KD Knight (representing the People's National Party) to bar members of the Government from commenting publicly on the proceedings. Knight and his colleagues had taken issue with criticisms of Phillips' action by minister with responsibility for information Daryl Vaz.
He also recommended that the enquiry be terminated as the witnesses were not fully co-operating.
The enquiry will resume on Monday.
Read more: <A style="COLOR: #003399" href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Nelson-reiterates-not-knowing--Dudus-_8427901#ixzz1EyinbQlt">http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1EyinbQlt
Nelson reiterates not knowing 'Dudus'
BY TANESHA MUNDLE Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, February 25, 2011 <A href="mailto:?subject="Nelson reiterates not knowing " JamaicaObserver.com? - Online News Jamaican | Nelson-reiterates-not-knowing--Dudus-_8427901 news www.jamaicaobserver.com http: Dudus??&body="Link:">MINISTER of national security Senator Dwight Nelson yesterday reiterated that he did not personally know former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and pointed out that his denial had nothing to do with fear of the alleged drug lord and his organisation as was suggested by an attorney.
Nelson gave the response after Linton Gordon, the attorney representing the Jamaica Defence Force, made the suggestion at yesterday's sitting of the commission of enquiry into the Government's handling of the United States' extradition request for Coke at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.
"Chairman... I did not deny the existence of the man. I said quite clearly that I was aware of his existence. I knew of reports in both the print and the electronic media of his activities. I had intelligence reports from the law enforcement agencies so I was aware of his existence. I said I did not know him," said an obviously irritated Nelson.
Gordon also suggested that Nelson was lying when he denied expressing a concern to former police commissioner, Rear Admiral Hardly Lewin, that Coke's extradition could bring down the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government.
However, the minister responded: "Your suggestion is wrong, totally, completely, unadulteratedly wrong."
Queen's Counsel Patrick Atkinson, representing Dr Peter Phillips, also grilled Nelson on his knowledge of Coke and even suggested that Nelson knew Coke's family.
However, Nelson said that he did not know Coke's mother but had seen his father once at the office of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union.
Nelson also testified that he did not know that Coke spent most of his time in Tivoli Gardens — a JLP stronghold — as he could have spent time in any of the other communities in West Kingston.
Under further cross-examination from Atkinson, Nelson said that he was not aware that Coke's Presidential Click office was located in West Kingston until after the May 2010 security forces' operation in Tivoli.
Nelson also told the enquiry that he was not aware that copies of the extradition request had been found inside Coke's Presidential Click office.
At one point during his cross-examination Nelson accused Dr Phillips, the former national security minister, of hiding the two secret Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) he signed with US and UK authorities in 2004 at the JDF headquarters in St Andrew.
The MOUs give local and foreign law enforcement agencies the right to intercept all landline and cellphone conversations on Cable and Wireless (now LIME) and Digicel switches in an effort to gather intelligence in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime under a programme named Operation ANTHEM.
However, critics have said that they trample on the rights of Jamaicans and Phillips has taken flak for signing the documents without the knowledge of the Cabinet and then Prime Minister PJ Patterson.
On another matter, the commissioners rejected a request from Queen's Counsel KD Knight (representing the People's National Party) to bar members of the Government from commenting publicly on the proceedings. Knight and his colleagues had taken issue with criticisms of Phillips' action by minister with responsibility for information Daryl Vaz.
He also recommended that the enquiry be terminated as the witnesses were not fully co-operating.
The enquiry will resume on Monday.
Read more: <A style="COLOR: #003399" href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Nelson-reiterates-not-knowing--Dudus-_8427901#ixzz1EyinbQlt">http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1EyinbQlt
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