Enquiry chairman's patience wears thin
Published:Wednesday | March 16, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
In yet another fiery hearing of the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry, the spotlight was trained on Chairman Emil George as he clashed with attorneys during a debate involving some of the lawyers aligned to the Government and parliamentary Opposition.
In an uncharacteristic display, George, upset that a ruling of his was not being heard, adjourned the meeting approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled 1 o'clock break, packed up his documents and walked out of the conference room, claiming he had run out of patience as an infuriated K.D. Knight, the attorney for the People's National Party (PNP), protested.
The trigger to yesterday's drama was the use of the word "corrupt" by Patrick Atkinson, the attorney representing former National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips.
Atkinson, in his cross-examination of Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne, described her nine-month refusal to sign the extradition request for accused drug lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke as a corrupt ploy by the Bruce Golding administration.
As Atkinson pressed home the point, Lightbourne's attorney, Dr Adolphus Edwards, objected to the use of "corrupt", declaring there was no evidence to support the claim.
Major difference
Edwards contended that there was a big difference between evidence given to the Manatt-Dudus commission and speeches made on the political hustings.
He argued that there was no inordinate delay in the signing of the extradition request as suggested by Atkinson.
Accordingly, Edwards told the commission that there was no evidence to suggest that Lightbourne had acted corruptly.
However, Atkinson painstakingly sought to explain that he was not referring to corruption in relation to the use of money or assets.
He maintained that the tactic employed by the Government was not in good faith and was characteristic of a corrupt use of power.
"It was an abuse of power," declared Atkinson.
Hugh Small, the attorney for Prime Minister Bruce Golding, pointed out that malfeasance in public office is a criminal offence.
However, Knight rushed to the defence of Atkinson.
He referred to a statement he made that Lightbourne had carried out her duties in a vulgar and corrupt way.
However, Small said he had not objected to Knight's statement, as he had confined his accusations to Lightbourne.
However, he said he took exception that Atkinson had carried it further to include his client.
As Knight moved to respond to Small, George knocked his gavel, but Knight continued to speak.
Without warning, George declared that his patience had worn thin and promptly adjourned the hearing.
George's action did not go down well with Knight.
"This is not your private domain. Taxpayers are paying you to listen as commissioner," Knight declared as the three commissioners packed up their belongings and exited the conference room.