Robinson counters Golding's claims

Claims by Prime Minister Bruce Golding were again placed under the microscope at the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry yesterday with former junior minister Dr Ronald Robinson casting doubt on the accuracy of portions of the witness statement submitted by Golding.

In at least three instances, Robinson, under cross-examination by People's National Party (PNP) attorney K.D. Knight, dismissed portions of Golding's statement read to him as false.

The most glaring case centred around Golding's claim, in his statement, about a meeting he had with Robinson and attorney-at-law Harold Brady, that their initiatives overseas should be done on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and not the Government.

"Did you get those specific instructions?" queried Knight.

"No, sir," replied Robinson, the former junior foreign affairs and foreign trade minister who is the sole casualty of the Manatt controversy so far.

"This is what the prime minister of Jamaica has said in his statement which he submitted to the commissioners here who are enquiring into the truth," Knight added.

No offer of assistance

Another section of Golding's statement that came under scrutiny was his claim that Robinson told him that he met with former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani, but got no concrete offer of assistance.

"Is that true or false?" asked Knight.

"False, sir," replied Robinson.

He also denied another claim in Golding's statement that he - Robinson - and Brady, in one of their meetings, raised issues about the difficulty and negative publicity arising from the US extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

According to the statement, both men were concerned about the fact that Coke was an active member of the Tivoli Gardens community and a supporter of the JLP and with the importance of maintaining good relations between Jamaica and the US.

"So you raised issues relating to the negative perception and publicity?" Knight asked.

"No, sir," Robinson again replied.

On Monday, the former junior minister cast doubt on statements Golding made in Parliament about his dealings with representatives of the US law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.

The prime minister said then that Robinson had a brief social encounter with representatives of the US law firm.

However, Robinson has testified that Golding instructed him to meet with Manatt representatives.

Compelled to make statement

Meanwhile, Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Karl Samuda, who was scheduled to make a brief appearance before the commission, has now been compelled to provide a witness statement.

Commission Chairman Emil George advised Samuda to provide his statement as quickly as possible. He will also face cross-examination by other attorneys.

Samuda got caught in the commission's cross hairs after several attorneys questioned the authenticity of a media release issued under his name that was being used in the cross-examination of Robinson.

The minister quickly verified the release, which was issued last year in his capacity as JLP general secretary.

However, the cross-examination by Knight quickly turned to an investigation Samuda conducted, in his role as general secretary, into the engagement of the US law firm.

This drew objections from several attorneys, who argued that he was not before the commission for that purpose.