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...

The extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke represents the most significant challenge to Jamaican statecraft to date. Political memories are short. It can be argued that the system is so designed that what has been politically embarrassing is conveniently forgotten. In this series attempts will be made to highlight some of the most potent aspects of this affair.  The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has issued a formal apology to the residents of Tivoli, the members of the security forces and everyone that was involved in this sordid affair.The omnibus nature of that apology makes it completely meaningless and insincere. Furthermore, none of the main players involved in the decision-making processes, or the actual operation, has made an apology or even expressed regret. From their perspective, their actions were completely warranted and justified by the perceived threat to the Jamaican state. Extradition off Christopher Coke involved among other things: *death of 69-73 persons,...