Questionable Conduct: The Jamaican Political Reality

Three book reviews of   "Dudus: The Extradition of Jamaica's #1 Drug Don" have been published; two in The Jamaica Observer and one in the Jamaica Gleaner. The first was by Rev Dr. Devon Dick entitled 'Devon Dick | Dudus Revisited By Dr Paul Ashley ' published in the Jamaica Gleaner Thursday, September 13, 2018: "Recently, Dr Paul Ashley, attorney-at-law and political commentator, published Dudus: The Extradition of Jamaica's #1 Drug Don, which recounts the "machinations of the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) to delay and frustrate the extradition of Jamaica's premier drug lord, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke." To achieve that goal, Ashley went to primary sources and published transcripts from both the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips and West Kingston commissions of enquiry. There are such documents scattered over the seven chapters. Ashley provides an overview of this watershed 2010 event then examines the confidentiality breach, the delay...

                              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...

Below is the substance of The  Authority To Proceed signed by Dorothy Lightbourne, Minister of Justice, dated May 18, 2010                                                      THE EXTRADITION ACT 1991                                                        AUTHORITY TO PROCEED To the Resident Magistrate for the Corporate Area WHEREAS a request has been duly made to me, Dorothy Lightbourne, Minister of Justice, on behalf of the United States of America for the surrender of fugitive Christopher Michael Coke, aka Michael Christopher Coke, aka Paul Christopher Scott, aka “Presi”, aka “General”, aka “President ”, aka “Duddus”, aka “Shortman” who is accused of the extradition offences of (1) Conspiracy to d...

The issue of the sufficiency, or otherwise, of the supporting evidence  accompanying the formal extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke resurfaced during the cross-examination of Miss Dorothy Lightbourne at the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry. The focus was on the "other evidence"--ie that excluding the contested wire tape evidence. Dorothy Lightbourne, the former Attorney- General and Minister of Justice, has been consistent in maintaining that the evidence other than that pertaining to the wire taps was insufficient to establish a prima facie case. Nevertheless she signed the authority to proceed without a sufficient evidentiary basis. In the Manatt Enquiry, the following exchanges took place on Friday, March 11, 2011 between Mr. K.D. Knight and Miss Lightbourne: Q:   ..... Miss Lightbourne you had some reservations about the wire tap evidence that had been supplied by the US government, is that correct? A:  That is correct. Q:   If you exclude t...