Questionable Conduct: The Jamaican Political Reality

The original plan completed in January 2010 envisioned the JCF role to arrest, search for evidence and execute the warrant on Dudus; whereas the JDF role at the time would be to provide a cordon to allow this to occur. However, the original focus changed. DCP Glenmore Hinds explains: "It did when the situation was no longer a law enforcement activity but a security operation, when the blockades were reinforced with explosives, when men began to fire at our assets, loot and destroy our assets. It became a situation that our law enforcement assets was just not able to respond.”      (Source; Tivoli COE, Day 30, May 26, 2015, p 48) The Operational Report Extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke 2010 had identified possible escape routes and counter measures: ‘The subject and other targets may attempt to evade capture by using the following routes to escape from the community: – Industrial Terrace – Spanish Town Road vicinity Tivoli Courts – Lizard Town Entrance – ...

The cost of any COE   is always of concern and especially so when there are competing demands for ever scarce resources. The debate surrounds getting value for money and the provision of jobs for the favoured few. Lawyers play a critical role in such enquiries. Where counsel in retained by private interests it is of no public concern. However, when the government selects counsel and pays for such services out of the public purse, then it is a matter for public scrutiny. Of course there is also the inferences to be drawn when counsel retained by the government displays political allegiance favourable to the governing political party, and in some instances play supportive roles during elections -- even contesting seats. The Snoring Commission was no different and the scrutiny was heightened by the withdrawal of the JLP and its associates from the proceedings. Consequently the findings are conditioned by the situation of " uncontradicted evidence" being prese...