Lilac Alert

Some readers will be familiar with the euphemisms used by the GOJ in recent times. They range from aliens to the truth, at variance with the facts, inconsistency, incompatible, irreconcilable to half truths and mis-communication. They are just lies - no matter the spin.

Jamaicans have been subjected to a number of lies in recent times. We are tired of the GOJ lies.
Ja Cynic maintains in Daft Conspiracy that:

"The GOJ's responses have been confusing, convoluted and unconvincing.  They have conceded and confessed only when confronted with the facts."

However, we continue to be watchful.  Hence we have issued the Lilac Alert.

Minister of Justice in a signed affidavit indicated that she had informed the PM that she having considered all the factors had decided to sign the authority to proceed.

The actual situation is complicated by the fact that:

• The AG and Minister of Justice is one and the same.  
• The AG is the principal legal advisor to the cabinet.
• The Minister of Justice in such matters only acts on behalf of the government.
• As the PM had indicated to Parliament, that if the Minister dares to exercise her discretion independently and at variance with the position of the Cabinet, then the Minister must tender her resignation.
• From the very outset the PM has given the Parliament and the public the impression that he was the central player in this extradition affair.
• In a parallel initiative by persons within the JLP, the party leader sanctioned the scheme. (The party leader of the JLP is one and the same as the PM of Jamaica and Bruce Golding).
• There is a challenge before the court intended to review the circumstances under which the Minister of Justice exercised her discretion. Was she instructed by the PM to sign the relevant papers?
• The PM may have provided the answer in his national broadcast to wit;

"I wrestled with the potential conflict between the issues of non-compliance with the terms of the treaty and the unavoidable perception that because Coke is associated with my constituency, the government's position was politically contrived. I felt that the concepts of fairness and justice should not be sacrificed in order to avoid that perception. In the final analysis, however, that must be weighed against the public mistrust that this matter has evoked and the destabilizing effect it is having on the nation's business. Accordingly, the Minister of Justice, in consideration of all the factors, will sign the authorization for the extradition process to commence."
Source: Jamaica Infomation Service

• The PM has stated repeatedly that the GOJ has never refused the extradition request. Hence the GOJ merely delayed its approval until more information/clarification was provided.

It is clear that the US authorities made "something more" known to the PM.  Whether the PM has shared that lubrication with other members of the cabinet is entirely a different matter. What is evident is that he has not shared that critical information with the public.  We have always maintained that the driving force is the self interest of the JLP - the us and not Dudus.