Dorothy battles censure motion
Published:Saturday | June 26, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Philip Hamilton, Gleaner Writer
Justice Minister and Attorney General Senator Dorothy Lightbourne is facing a vote of no confidence by opposition senators for her handling of the United States government's extradition request for former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
Opposition Senator Sandrea Falconer, who yesterday, filed a motion in the Senate calling for Lightbourne's censorship, said Lightbourne's mishandling of the extradition process had severely affected her trustworthiness and competence and that she no longer enjoyed the Senate's confidence as minister.
Falconer said the justice minister had employed spurious reasons and excuses for nine months to delay the signing of an extradition request by a friendly state in respect of a person accused of drug trafficking and gunrunning.
According to Senator Falconer, Lightbourne's actions constituted scant respect for the proper administration of justice, as well as gross dereliction of ministerial responsibility.
She called on the Senate to condemn Lightbourne for abusing the State's power to prevent the smooth flow of the process in which the requested surrender of an alleged drug lord was to be pursued, thereby causing embarrassment to the State.
The Senate was originally scheduled to debate six anti-crime bills that had been passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Gov't senators stunned
Several government senators appeared to have been stunned by the motion brought by Senator Falconer, judging by their initial reactions.
But Lightbourne, who is also leader of government business in the Senate, seemed unperturbed by the motion brought against her.
"Mr President, I'm raring to go to defend myself," declared Lightbourne to Senate President Oswald Harding, much to the amusement of her fellow government senators.
The no-confidence motion is scheduled to be debated before the Senate next week.