PM in 'serious pickle'

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Civic leaders from western Jamaica have expressed shock over revelations that Prime Minister Bruce Golding was complicit in the hiring of US law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to lobby the United States government on behalf of alleged crime boss Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

"As far as I am concerned, Mr Golding is once again in a serious pickle. A pickle that questions his trustworthiness and credibility," said political commentator Lloyd B. Smith.

"Revelations coming out of the email that were published in The Sunday Gleaner clearly indicate that there was a conspiracy, some linkage between the Government and the whole business of seeking to use whatever persuasive power the Government had through this legal firm to deal with the Christopher 'Dudus' Coke extradition."

Well-known businessman Mark Kerr-Jarrett said he was very disappointed that this issue was not fully exposed at the outset.

"One thing that we have to learn as a people and teach as parents is that, when you tell the truth and the whole truth, you only have to tell it once. This saga has become an ongoing shame and an embarrassment to the people of Jamaica," stated Kerr-Jarrett.

"I hope that this is the end of it. It is a terrible blemish on the country and the leadership of the nation."

The Trelawny Chamber of Commerce were to meet last evening to discuss the developments in the Manatt saga, to craft a detailed response to the issue.

"We were very disturbed about the original deception related to this whole issue and to consider that there is a greater level of deception is disturbing to us," said chamber president Richard Bourke. "I can only say that the Trelawny Chamber has not been able to get full disclosure on this matter of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips."

barrington.flemming@gleanerjm.com