Withdraw, honourable Lightbourne

THERE WERE many unfortunate and unfounded comments at last month's enquiry into the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. None more than certain comments made by the attorney general and minister of justice, the honourable Dorothy Lightbourne, in relation to the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jeremy Taylor and her former executive secretary, Mrs Verna McGraw. Therefore, it was hoped that when Lord Anthony Gifford, attorney representing the Office of DPP, offered her the opportunity to withdraw comments, she would have accepted.

Lightbourne made the allegation, under the cross-examination of K.D. Knight, attorney representing the People's National Party (PNP), that it was bad advice by Taylor that caused the debacle associated with the operation in Tivoli in the quest to apprehend the fugitive, Coke. In Light-bourne's view, Taylor should have advised the Obama administration to use the provisional warrant for the arrest of Coke. It is very debatable that Taylor gave bad advice considering that, since the close of the enquiry, a United Kingdom request for the extradition of Tony Ashman was quashed by the Supreme Court because the time had expired on the provisional warrant. Can we imagine what could have happened if Coke had to be released? Furthermore, even if we conceded, for argument's sake, that he gave bad advice, it does not mean that the cause of the deaths in Tivoli was owing to his advice. As Frank Phipps, attorney who represented the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), said at the enquiry, because an event follows an action does not mean that the action caused the event. And would Lightbourne claim that Taylor's advice is the cause for the reduction in murders by 40 per cent?

Lightbourne withdrew the comment attributed to K.D. Knight that 'all Labourite fe dead'. Therefore, she should do the honourable thing and also withdraw the comment because she has not provided any evidence to show the link between Taylor's advice and the deaths and destruction in Tivoli.

Taylor comes from a family known for giving public service. Taylor's grandfather, the late Austin Taylor, served as a JLP councilor and was one of the JLP senators in the first senate, serving alongside Edward Seaga. Austin Taylor was also a Baptist deacon. We need to be careful how we sully the reputations of young, bright, public servants without cause.

unlikely forgery

Furthermore, Lightbourne also made the allegation against McGraw that the September 2009 email that outlined the extradition process and actions and was copied to Harold Brady and also to Solicitor General Douglas Leys, was a forgery. It is unlikely that a typist could be that knowledgeable about the extradition when most Jamaicans, including columnists, have never read the Extradition Act and even eminent attorneys differ on its interpretation. She must have been following someone's instructions.

Furthermore, she would have had to have the prophetic skills of Philip Phinn and Harold Camping combined to know from September 2009 that there would be a commission of enquiry two years later, to commit an email forgery from then to be used later. In any case, the implications of this allegation would mean that there was a conspiracy between McGraw and the solicitor general, who kept this email as genuine. We observe Labour Day to celebrate the efforts of workers and the contribution of workers to nation building. Therefore, the utterances of Miss Lightbourne, as directed toward McGraw, would be unfortunate.

In my interactions with Minister Lightbourne, I have found her to be soft-spoken and someone who 'cyan mash ants,' so these statements should be seen as out of character. Therefore, Miss Lightbourne should heed the small, still voice of Lord Gifford and withdraw those allegations against Taylor, as well as those against McGraw.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. Email editorial@gleanerjm.com.