Samuda: complicit in conspiracy?

Political observers continue to weigh the importance of Karl Samuda in the Manatt Phelps & Phillips docudrama. Analyst Dr Hume Johnson is of the view that Samuda is culpable.

"Since Samuda is serving dual roles - one, as minister in the Bruce Golding-led administration, and two, as general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), he is complicit in the conspiracy to mislead parliament and deceive the Jamaican people," she declared.

"That Karl Samuda was invited, and agreed to investigate the issue when concerns were raised, despite strident calls for an independent investigation, and especially despite having already known the full extent of the government's involvement in the hiring of the law firm, means that he is deeply involved in the cover-up."

Samuda was chucked into a prominent role in the tumultuous affair in the penultimate scene.

The previous scene had culminated with Information Minister Daryl Vaz and attorney-at-law Harold Brady engaged in a verbal tussle.

Vaz and Brady have been unwavering stalwarts of the JLP for many years. But their roles in the Mannatt affair had clearly begun to strain their relationship.

The drama heightened with a flurry of vehement denials and strenuous charges by Vaz and Brady.

As the battle raged on the public stage, Vaz was replaced by Samuda as the government's point man in an obvious change of strategy.

The following scene was calmer, though just as suspense filled.

Samuda's first appearance turned out to be the precursor to the highly dramatic scene played out in Parliament last week.

He was the first to officially confirm that the JLP had a prominent role in the affair, and the first person to name the member of the government who met with Manatt officials.

In a soliloquy-styled statement to an audience waiting with baited breath, Samuda asserted that in September of last year, persons within the JLP approached Brady.

They wanted to determine whether, through his wide network of international contacts, he could assist in facilitating the opening of discussions between the United States authorities and the Government of Jamaica, and thereby, seek to resolve what had become a treaty dispute between Washington and Kingston.

Vast experience

Samuda said it was expected that Brady, having served as a former secretary general of the International Democrat Union, an organisation of worldwide centre-right parties founded in 1983 of which the JLP is an associate member, would use his vast experience in international law and politics to assist in this regard.

According to Samuda, Brady's firm retained the services of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips on or about October 2009 to pursue discussions with relevant officials of the government.

"I am advised that all payment arrangements to Manatt, Phelps & Phillips were transacted between the two firms," Samuda asserted.

The JLP general secretary stressed that the government of Jamaica had nothing to do with any aspect of these arrangements.

But it is here in Samuda's statement that there was a curious blurring of the lines between Government and governing party.

Samuda said the solicitor general went to Washington in December to hold discussions with officials of the State and Justice departments.

He did not say that Leys was acting on behalf of the JLP, but did say that the meeting was arranged through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Jamaica.

Samuda said the solicitor general and the team that accompanied him met with representatives of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips at Mr Brady's invitation.

"The discussions were exploratory and were focused on alternative approaches that have been taken in similar treaty disputes with the US," said the JLP general secretary.

Representative

Samuda claimed that the solicitor general made it clear that the government of Jamaica saw no need at that stage to engage the services of the law firm, but would be prepared to consider doing so should the need arise.

The solicitor general accepted the suggestion that a representative of the firm attend the planned meeting with the State and Justice departments as an observer.

He claimed that the solicitor general, who had had no previous contact with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, was not then aware that Manatt had already been retained by Brady & Company.

Samuda also pointed out junior minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ronald Robinson, as the government official to meet with Manatt representatives, but the JLP general secretary said this was a brief social meeting.