Code Secret

One of the highest classifications used by the Ministry of National Security to indicate the level of confidentiality of highly sensitive documents is SECRET! This is normally placed at strategic points throughout the document. Sometimes it may be in red. 

 Nevertheless the classification indicates that only authorized individuals should have access to such documents and under no circumstances should there have cause for its publication to unauthorized individuals. This is essential for the effectiveness of national security operations especially those involving transnational organized crime.

Indeed it is well known that there are foreign law enforcement agents operating in Jamaica. Frequently they provide technical and logistic assistance to their Jamaican counterparts. For example, they may be involved in "sting operations", fugitive apprehension and counter narco-terrorism activities. It has been a feature of small independent countries to enter into "secret" arrangements between the more powerful and technologically superior states. Indeed there is even the arrangement where the captured bounty is shared. 

It is of paramount importance that the confidentiality of such arrangements is not compromised by unauthorized publication of the details of such bi-lateral relationships.  The classification has to be respected by both countries and forms the context in which future relationships are struck in the area of national security.

In most countries, there are criminal sanctions for those found guilty of unauthorized possession of classified documents. 

• Will the Manatt COE investigate the presence of highly confidential information at the headquarters of the Presidential Click?
• Will the Manatt COE investigate the persons within the JLP who facilitated the unauthorized sharing of information with journalists in a certain media house?
• Will the persons be held accountable for what must be regarded as a criminal act?

Don't hold your breath!

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Credit Run Out

Source: Jamaica Observer 5.4.2010

US President William "Bill" Clinton in dealing with the Monica Lewinsky Affair stared right into the TV cameras, maintained eye contact and adopted the seriousness of a judge and said:

 "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

We are yet to see any evidence of anyone who was willing to admit, either privately or publicly, that they had believed that statement.  

Jamaica is never far behind. We have our own President (of the Employer's Federation), another W.C. making this statement concerning the Chen Affair:

"I did not ask for an intervention and have no information that suggests that the Jamaican government has done so."  

We have not done a survey to assess the extent of the credibility of this statement.  However, some nagging questions refuse to go away.

• How were the details of Chen's visa revocation and subsequent actions by him and others on his behalf "leaked" to the media?
• Who was that impostor on TV giving "information" but not "seeking intervention"?
• If one makes a call to the fire department informing them of a raging fire, is that not also seeking an intervention?

Latest media reports are that Chen is still waiting for an official reply to this re-application for a US visa. 

Then we have no less a person than the PM of Jamaica, the Hon.Bruce Golding M.P. in stark and irreconcilable conflict with the prestigious US law firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in respect of representation made to the US State Department and Justice Department. 

There is a disconnect; dem credit run out.

Clovis' cartoon in the Jamaica Observer speaks volumes.

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DUD - US

The extradition debacle involving "Christopher "Dudus" Coke, is not so much about the notorious Tivoli mega-businessman with umbilical linkage to the JLP. 

It is primarly about the self-interests of leading JLP activists - some being cabinet ministers, some Members of Parliament, senators, prominent "persons" and others financial contributors.  It is for the JLP about "US"; not about "you", not about "them" but all about "US".

The real issue has been revealed:



Electronic Telephone Intercepts

• How many Members of Parliament had their telephones - private and business - tapped by the authorities?

• Over what period time were these "buggings" instituted?

• How were individuals/telephone numbers added or extracted from the lists?

• What has been done with the contents of the intercepts?

• Which authorities - local and foreign - have access to those wire tappings?

It is the self-interests of the JLP not to let the contents of those electronic telephone intercepts (ETI) be used as a basis for any extradition request or as evidence in any local or foreign court.  It is not about Dudus per se but the foundation of the extradition request. The JLP Government is mindful of setting precedent and a court adjudicating on the legality of the said intercepts.  It cannot take that risk.

In these "extradition treaty technicalities", the Tivoli don is merely a DUD.  Can you imagine the potential debvastation of those recordings of the conversations between "prominent persons" and the criminal network?  It would be off the Richter scale - a political earthquake triggering a tsunami of resignations (and arrests).

The US seems to know something about "US".  Can you hear me now?

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