Sell Out

The graffiti has been daubed on strategically selected walls in some urban ghetto areas.  The calls have been echoed in Parliament. Now they have found their way into the legal posturings in the Manatt Commission of Enquiry.  

The accusation is simple: Dr. Peter Phillips as Minister of National Security has sold out the constitutional rights of Jamaicans to the United States. This he has done by signing the mystery MOU's.  The charge is serious and hurtful. Peter Phillips has always been a nationalist at heart. It was reported that he was once a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel - Bungo Peter wore tam and sandals and uttered black conscious lyrics.  Peter Phillips was a social scientist and an ardent follower of Michael Norman Manley. He was once General Secretary of the People's National Party and held ministerial positions both in the Michael Manley and P.J. Patterson led regimes. 

In his testimony, Phillips said that he had obtained the legal opinion of the then Solicitor General Michael Hylton. Later he said that the Solicitor General vetted the MOU's before they were signed. Hugh Small Q.C. in his cross examination of the now Security Minister Dwight Nelson has elicited evidence that the proper course is for the AG based upon the advice of the SG to inform the Minister in respect of legal matters. Well both the then AG A.J. Nicholson QC and the then Solicitor General Michael Hylton are available to the Commission.  The Commissioners are duty bound to call upon them to clarify the situation. In addition as portrayed by Clovis' cartoon, it may be useful if the insights of the then Prime Minister, Most Honourable P.J. Patterson QC be brought to bear on the purported secrecy of the deal.  

Bluntly if Phillips sold out then he was not alone in this venture.  It is very dangerous to leave these accusations hanging out there.

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The Brady Factor

The Dudus Extradition Affair (DEA) has been complicated by what can be conveniently called the Brady factor.  Spin is unravelling; embarrassment is spilling all over the government; credibility is a casualty; the situation not only looks bad, but it stinks.

The Golding government needs to come clean. It is walking a vanishing line.  A number of questions remain unanswered:

•    Was Brady provided with written authority to enter into such an arrangement?

•    Did any government/ministry/department receive and respond to any request from the said US law firm regarding the authority of Brady to enter such arrangements on behalf of the GOJ?

•    Who were the individuals that accompanied the SG to meetings with officials of the US government?

•    Did Brady at any time meet with US officials regarding the DEA?

•    How many meetings did the US law firm attend in their capacity as representing the interests of GOJ?

•    Was the AG and Minister of Justice made aware of the occurrence and outcomes of such meetings?

•    Did the AG and Minister of Justice inform the PM and/or the cabinet of the occurrence and outcomes of any such meetings?

•    Did Brady inform the PM about the progress report of the US law firm"s representation on behalf of the GOJ?

•    Did the PM at any time instruct Brady on the direction/strategy to be employed in dealings with the US officials?

•    How much money was paid to the US law firm under the said arrangements and how were such funds sourced?

The Government's inept handling of this episode is turning out to be the newest quiz show: The Brady  Fact - or -???

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