The American case against Jamaican officials

[malaise]

url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100609/cleisure/cleisure4.html
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Whatever the merits for delay, and they are extremely difficult to discern, it is clear that the way it was handled was a tragic error. The back-room, underhanded way in which it was sought to circumvent the strong position of the US did not betray any kind of legitimate argument. Instead, the public welfare of Jamaica was mortgaged on white-collar legal stationery that likely could have been a violation of US law.

The Manatt Phillips, Phelps fiasco was the direct result of a cruel cocktail of hubris, ineptitude and an apparently strong belief that defying the US' request was actually in the national interest. Clearly, the officials involved were aware of the risks of trying to enter Tivoli and its potential repercussions, and must have known that waiting, and inflaming a delicate situation, would not make things any easier for Jamaica.

But the conduct of officials throughout the process was not just unseemly - it may have been illegal.

There were almost certainly misrepresen-tations on the foreign agent registration that originated the lobbying, and while the decision to delay extradition was a political one, the means by which it occurred could have involved violations of US law, specifically, the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Some have predicted a US indictment in the future for those involved. While it would likely be unprecedented, given the stakes of what has occurred, it would not be altogether surprising - or unreasonable for overseas officials to be indicted. While blood still runs in the streets of Kingston, accountability must be taken.

The extradition controversy turned what should have been a relatively quiet affair; a delicate situation into a disaster, and instead put Jamaica on the world's stage in a role it never should have played. Prosecution may be without forebear, but it would not be unmerited, or unwelcome.
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Wow! UM usually speaks for the CIA.

[Ian David]

1. Well, you know what they say. The harder they come, the taller they fall. n/t

[malaise]

2. You know while most of Jamaica hates the thought

of a Jamaican Prime Minister being 'Noriega(ed)', we do wish he would just go away. We cannot continue with these losers leading us into a narco-state. Golding is worse than a lame duck.