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These PNP FARA documents clearly started out with the PR firm representing the PNP and when the PNP was elected as the ruling party the documents clearly state that the Government and the PNP were the same thing. There was no attempt to diguise the PNP in Goverment garments.
If these PNP FARA filings shows that a political party can contract on behalf of a government then the JLP may be off the hook with the Feds in Washington for medding in Govt to Govt treaty matter but their back is still against the wall in Jamaica. Jamaica does not allow political parties to represent the Govt in treaty to treaty matters. We have a goverment structure in place for that (Min o Foreign Affairs, AG & SG.)
PNP Gov't employed US firm in 1989
US documents show PR company worked free for party during election campaign
Monday, February 28, 2011
<A href="mailto:?subject="PNP Gov" JamaicaObserver.com? - Online News Jamaican | PNP-Gov-t-employed-US-firm-in-1989_8442069 news www.jamaicaobserver.com http: 1989?&body="Link:" in firm US employed t>
AN American public relations firm that volunteered its services to the People's National Party (PNP) in the run-up to the February 1989 general elections was employed by the Government after the party won the elections and held a contract for three years for which it was paid an average of US$31,000 per month.
In a document filed with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the company, Fenton Communications, said that it had an oral agreement with the PNP (described as "the foreign principal") and listed as the party's main aim "to win the Feb 9 national elections".
"The agreement between the registrant and the foreign principal is an oral one. The effort is a voluntary one. The registrant will receive no compensation other than foreign political partyreimbursement for expenses for air fare, hotel, meals and phone calls," the FARA document filed in February 1989 said.
"Activities that the registrant will engage in are, providing assistance to the in co-ordinating US press coverage of the Jamaican national elections..." the document added.
But five months after the PNP was victorious at the polls, Fenton Communications, in its FARA declaration, named the Government of Jamaica as a new foreign principal acquired during the six-month reporting period ending July 14, 1989.
According to the Department of Justice documents, Fenton Communications' activities involved the preparation and dissemination of "political propaganda" for radio and TV broadcasts, magazine and newspaper articles, advertising campaigns, press releases, pamphlets, letters and telegrams, and lectures and speeches.
Generally over the three years, the company — in separate filings every six months — said its activities included organising press coverage of visits to the US of then Prime Minister Michael Manley. The company also said it worked to "show the American public that the Manley/PNP Government seeks positive, continued relations with the United States", and co-operation from the US in a number of areas, including economic development and the fight against drug-trafficking.
The issue of the PNP's association with the company emerged at the ongoing Commission of Enquiry into the current Government's handling of the US's extradition request for accused drug and arms dealer Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, a strong supporter of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and former don of Tivoli Gardens, a community that is fiercely loyal to the JLP.
The Government had, for nine months, delayed the extradition request, arguing that evidence presented by the Americans against Coke had breached Jamaican law.
In an apparent effort to get Washington to drop the request, Prime Minister Bruce Golding sanctioned an approach to US law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips. Golding has said he made it clear that the firm was to be retained by the JLP and not the Government. However, Manatt, in its FARA declaration, said it was acting for the Government.
The episode has raised the issue of foreign firms being contracted by Jamaican political parties and governments to lobby on their behalf. An attempt by lawyers representing the JLP at the Dudus/Manatt enquiry to highlight the agreement the PNP had with Fenton has angered attorneys representing the PNP.
However, the opposition party is likely to face questions about the change in the status of its association with the firm after the 1989 elections.
The contract was terminated some time after July 1992 as Fenton, in its FARA report for the six-month period ending January 14, 1993, indicated as much.
Said the firm, which listed a Washington, DC business address: "Fenton Communications representation of the Government of Jamaica (also known as the People's National Party) has terminated. Our contract was with the Government of Jamaica, which is the PNP, but we did not have separate contracts."
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1FFXVaOwc
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