Questionable Conduct: The Jamaican Political Reality

Extradition of Christopher "Dudus" Coke involved among other things: * death of 69-73 persons * declaration of a limited state of emergency * resignation of a Prime Minister * use of mortars on a civilian population * armed intervention against the state * hiring of a law firm to lobby the US Government in an inter-state matter * resignation of a  Senator from the incumbent regime * commissioning of two(2) commissions of enquiry * payment by the state of damages incurred * the killing of Mr. Keith Clarke, at his residence in Upper St. Andrew, resulting in three (3) members                          of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) being charged with murder * involvement of a US military spy plane apparently without the knowledge and consent of either the Minister of National Security or the Minister of Defence (the Prime Minister) * military assistance provided by the USA to the Jamaican secur...

                              Below is the substance of the Warrant signed by Dorothy Lightbourne, Minister of Justice, dated June 24, 2010:  giving governmental approval for the extradition of  Christopher "Dudus" Coke.                                              THE EXTRADITION ACT 1991                                     WARRANT OF MINISTER FOR EXTRADlTION OF FUGITIVE To the Superintendent of the Red Fence Adult Correctional Centre, Kingston , and to all and each of the Constables of the Jamaica Constabulary Force: WHEREAS a request has been made to me for the surrender of Christopher Michael Coke aka “Michael Christopher Coke”, aka “ P aul Christopher Scott”, aka “Presi” aka “Genera...

The Dudus Extradition Affair (DEA) produced some memorable quotes which were repeated ad infinitum in nearly every discussion of the topic. The mass media had a field day and some of these quotes were accompanied by attempts at animation which may or may not have been part of the narrative. Below are a few which will bring back memories of those who watched the televised version: Prime Minister Bruce Golding: “ Now, I know that perhaps it is politically expedient to say, well, it’s Coke, or it could have been Mathews Lane strongman, Zeeks, or it could be any of these. I am not defending the wrongdoing of any person, but I will say this, If I have to pay a political price for it, I am going to uphold a position that the constitutional rights do not begin at Liguanea. That’s not where they start.(Applause) (Source: Hansard, Kerr 3:50 02. 03. 10) “There are applications that go to the Minister, the Minister has to examine it. The Minister cannot shut her eye and sign it, she has...