Light on Dorothy

Attorney general set to take stand at Manatt-Dudus enquiry today

The long wait for Dorothy Lightbourne, the minister of justice and attorney general, to testify at the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry, is slated to end today.

Lightbourne is expected to make her appearance on the same day the commission will extend the length of the hearing to well beyond 1 p.m. in a bid to complete its work by month end.

Starting today, the enquiry will extend past 4 p.m. and weekend sessions have not been ruled out.

If the face-offs between some attorneys and witnesses associated with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Government are anything to go by, an epic showdown will occur between Lightbourne and colourful attorney K.D. Knight, who is representing the People's National Party.

The anxious wait for Lightbourne has been fuelled by her initial refusal to sign the authority to proceed with the extradition of former Tivoli Gardens don, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Eventually signed document

Lightbourne eventually signed the document after demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Bruce Golding reverberated throughout the length and breadth of the island.

The justice minister is expected to face queries from Knight, as well as Patrick Atkinson, the attorney representing former National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips, and Winston Spaulding, the attorney for Solicitor General Douglas Leys.

Eyebrows were raised in hearings of the commission as perceived contradictions with claims made by Lightbourne surfaced during cross-examinations from several witnesses.

Golding has signalled that he wants to face the commission by the end of next week.

However, the prime minister's attorney, Hugh Small, has stressed that Lightbourne should give evidence before him.

Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Cole is also scheduled to return before Lightbourne takes the stand.