Golding mum on payment of Manatt fees
Published:Saturday | March 26, 2011 | 12:00 AM
PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding has dismissed suggestions that he got entangled in the Christopher Coke extradition matter because the fugitive was an influential figure in the West Kingston constituency he represents.
At yesterday's sitting of the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry, Golding also firmly rejected suggestions that Coke had paid the legal fees for United States law firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.
However, he refused to divulge who paid the money.
Pressed by K.D. Knight, the lawyer representing the People's National Party, about the motive for his involvement in the Coke extradition matter, Golding emphasised that it was the first time in his experience that his hand had been forced by any extradition request.
The prime minister said he was the second person - after Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne - in the Cabinet that was informed of the extradition request in August 2009 by former Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardly Lewin.
Knight, however, maintained that Golding got involved even before Lightbourne had formally expressed concern about a diplomatic stalemate with the US government.