Desperate measures

Kingston mayor, PM's wife figure prominently in latest WikiLeaks offerings

A desperate mayor and a meddling wife are the images conjured from the latest cables published by WikiLeaks about Jamaica.

Conversations involving United States officials in Jamaica, Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie and Lorna Golding, wife of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, are the subject of two 2009 cables from chargé d'affaires in the US Embassy, Isiah Parnell, to his superiors in Washington.

The two cables reflect Mrs Golding's and McKenzie's efforts to put an end to the extradition request for alleged crime boss Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

In one cable, dated September 2009, Parnell claimed McKenzie met with US Embassy officials and pleaded for the Americans to withdraw the extradition request for Coke.

According to Parnell, McKenzie warned of "severe repercussions" and "collateral damage" if Coke were sent to the US to answer criminal charges.

Worked with coke

The cable further reported that McKenzie told US officials that in recent years his administration had worked with Coke to reduce crime in the inner cities of Jamaica, particularly in west Kingston.

"If he now were extradited, this would 'leave a vacuum', and matters would be much worse. McKenzie noted that, in recent days, several of his 'contacts in the communities' had told him they would not take this (Coke's extradition) lying down," Parnell said in the cable.

Continued the cable: "McKenzie then asked if there were any room for further discussions with US officials. The embassy official replied by reiterating that the US expected Jamaica to honour its obligations under the Extradition Treaty, and considered this a case of great importance; however, the embassy would convey the mayor's assessment and inquiry to Washington.

"McKenzie concluded by observing that his views were not only an assessment, but accurately portrayed the 'grim picture of the reality we face'."

In his summary and conclusion, Parnell argued that McKenzie's assessment was not unfounded.

According to Parnell: "Coke's wealth, power, and influence are pervasive, and his sudden removal could spark violent incidents and/or unleash rivalriesamong competing gang factions in Kingston, Spanish Town, and Montego Bay."

Parnell added: "He (Coke) is easily the highest profile figure whose extradition has been requested in many years, and his long-standing ties to the JLP have put McKenzie, Bruce Golding, and other leading party figures in an extremely awkward position."

The west Kingston strongman - who was later extradited to the US to answer charges of drug and gun trafficking - also figured prominently in a December 2009 cable based on an alleged conversation involving Mrs Golding and then public affairs officer (PAO) at the US Embassy in Kingston, Patricia Attkisson.

According to that cable, Mrs Golding was convinced that the extradition request was a plot by sympathisers of the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) to embarrass her husband.

Influenced by rangel

The Parnell cable reported that Mrs Golding said she believed US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was under the "pernicious influence" of US congressman Charles Rangel.

The cable further claimed that Mrs Golding alleged that Rangel was a "sympathiser" of the PNP who was being "manipulated" by PNP elements in the Jamaican diaspora in the US and who was "whispering in Secretary Clinton's ear" in order to "downgrade" the governing JLP and the Government of Jamaica (GOJ).

It was further alleged in the cable that the prime minister's wife claimed this conspiracy led to the White House's delay in naming a new ambassador to Jamaica and was leading to the Government's difficulties in finalising standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

But Parnell was clear that he did not believe Mrs Golding was delivering a message on behalf of her husband or the Government.

"Mrs Golding insisted that she had invited the PAO to have tea on her own initiative and that the PM, although aware of the meeting, hadn't put her up to it.

"This is likely true, given that Mrs Golding appeared completely unprepared, could not stay on message, and had no apparent talking points or agenda," Parnell said in his conclusions and analysis.

"If the PM had hoped to establish a backchannel for discussions with post or to convey some informal messages to the USG (US Government) regarding the Coke extradition request, the status of IMF negotiations, or some other matter of mutual concern, it would appear that the opportunity was lost," added Parnell.

He also noted that despite the invitation for tea, none was actually served and instead the PAO was offered salad that Mrs Golding said her husband had made the evening before.

In his conclusion, Parnell noted concerns about the seeming uncertainty which characterised the actions of the Golding administration in relation to the opportunity lost.

"This is consistent with past practice, however, as the PM and the JLP (the Government of Jamaica) have missed a number of opportunities in recent months to signal their willingness to make difficult decisions or to address the myriad economic and social crises the nation faces," Parnell closed.

The Gleaner was unsuccessful in its efforts to contact Mrs Golding and McKenzie yesterday.

However, McKenzie said in a radio interview that he had no memory of any such meeting.