Pressure mounts on Robertson

REPORTS ARE now surfacing that witnesses are coming out of the woodwork thick and fast to give investigators damning statements against embattled Cabinet minister James Robertson.  But, so far, the local police have refused to confirm or deny the reports.

University of Miami professor, attorney-at-law David Rowe - representing St Thomas businessman Ian Johnson, who first made the allegations against Robertson - told The Sunday Gleaner that three more witnesses had given statements to authorities in the United States.

According to the Florida-based attorney, he understands that "several witnesses have also approached the police in Jamaica".

But Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, who is leading the investigation, has refused to comment on Rowe's claim.

"We will be making an announcement next week," was all Green offered in response to The Sunday Gleaner's queries.

Police probe

Green, who heads the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), had previously disclosed that a police probe on Robertson had been under way for some three years.

According to Green, the police have already interviewed Johnson and a statement has been taken from him.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds, who is named in Johnson's statement as someone with whom he had shared the allegations against Robertson, told The Sunday Gleaner that he could not comment on the investigations and that Green was the designated spokesman on the matter.

Green said witness-protection measures had been offered to Johnson and appropriate steps taken to ensure his safety.

The assistant commissioner did not say when the police probe would be completed, but that it could not happen fast enough for the Bruce Golding administration and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which has been battered and bruised by crisis after crisis, some of its own doing.

PARTY SUPPORT

The party has already indicated that unless the police find anything to substantiate the allegation, it will be standing behind Robertson, its deputy leader for Area Council 2, member of parliament for Western St Thomas, and the minister of mining and energy.

He is accused of plotting murders, conspiring to commit murders, and ordering the murder of a man who once considered him a political ally.

The allegations surfaced last week after a sworn deposition, done by Johnson as part of a request for political asylum in the United States, was made public.

Robertson, no stranger to controversy, so far, has been guarded in his response.

In the immediate aftermath of the release of the allegations, Robertson issued a terse statement in which he admitted that he had known Johnson for several years.

According to Robertson, his recollection was that "he (Johnson) is given to erratic behaviour and flights of fancy".

"I have consulted my attorneys, led (by) Patrick Bailey, and they have advised me that these spurious, unfounded, erratic, and self-serving allegations, apart from being vehemently and completely denied by me, are not worthy of any further comment from me personally," Robertson said.

"Mr Johnson conceded in a (media) interview that he is on medication for a mental disorder," claimed Robertson.

Since then, the minister has avoided all attempts by the media to get any further comments from him.

However, his government colleagues have come to his defence, while urging Jamaicans not to jump to conclusions.

"Whereas the Government and the party see these allegations as serious, we must not move from allegations to conviction until such time as the process takes place," minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz, told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing last Wednesday.

"We support him (Robertson), and we are confident that the people of west St Thomas will continue to support him in the overwhelming manner they have done in the past few years," declared JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda at a media briefing the following day.

"It is a difficult time for him because allegations are hurtful and they impact on your family ... and I know this must be playing heavily on him," added Samuda.

Vaz admitted that the issue had been discussed at last Monday's Cabinet meeting and during the weekly meeting of senior members of the JLP, but there was no indication from the prime minister that he would be rushing to take any action against Robertson.

This was confirmed by Samuda, who conceded that the allegations went to the heart of the Government.

The JLP general secretary said it was unavoidable that Prime Minister Bruce Golding would address the matter at sometime, but according to Samuda, it was unlikely that the comment would come when Golding addresses conference today.

"It's a matter that involves the governance of the country and involves a key player in that process, so the prime minister, as the leader of that process, will have to address it," Samuda said.

The Opposition People's National Party has argued that Robertson should be relieved of his ministerial responsibilities until the police probe is done, but that appears unlikely.

Playing politics

According to Vaz, those persons calling for the resignation of Robertson before the police investigation is done are playing politics.

"It is quite interesting to note where these allegations first arose on Sunday. I would also like to highlight the characters who are involved in this recent round of allegations and note that this is not the first time that allegations have come from those quarters," Vaz charged.

But Rowe has expressed regret at the party's response.

"I'm disappointed that the JLP is undercutting the police force and supporting an individual who might be implicated in murder," Rowe told The Sunday Gleaner.

"It is not for me to caution a political party, but murder has become a part of the political culture of Jamaica," Rowe added.

Rowe believes the asylum case involving Johnson could be concluded before Christmas. "I think there will be very, very significant action in the case within the next three weeks or earlier.

"There is going to be a hearing in the United States concerning his political asylum. I can't disclose the date because of security reasons," said Rowe.

Johnson has already given his sworn statement to US officials and he has been cooperating with personnel from the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Council of Foreign Relations.