Extradition and the Jamaican State

It has finally come to light that the nation of Jamaica is a country that is plagued with corrupt politics and controlled by organized criminal elements. This is not to say that other Caribbean nations are free from this condition. Its is just that the nation has advertised itself as an idyllic place where visitors can to enjoy a vacation in safety.

In September of 2009 the United States files an application for the extradition of one Christopher Dudus Coke. Dudus Coke is accused of drug and gun related charges. Mr Coke is also reputed to be the "President" of Tivoli Gardens, a district of the Jamaican Capital which the Prime Minister represents.

The Prime Minister of the country, Bruce Golding, caused the extradition order not to be signed by the Minister of Justice stating that the wiretap evidence against Mr. Coke was obtained illegally. The Prime Minister demanded to know the identify of the Jamaican police officer who released the evidence to US law enforcement so that he could be charged with "breach of the Interception of Communications Act."

In early 2010 it came to light that elements of the ruling political party attempted to lobby the US government on matters related to existing treaties and the extradition request. The Prime Minister initially denied that the Jamaican Government was involved. On May 11, 2010,  Mr. Golding finally confessed that he had sanctioned the engagement of a Los Angeles based law firm named "Manatt, Phelps & Phillips" to lobby the US government.

Under pressure to resign the Prime Minister issued a public apology to the country on May 17, 2010. In his public address, Mr. Golding revealed that he would request that the Minister of Justice, Dorothy Lightbourne, sign the extradition request. Thus begins a series of events that seemingly reveals the underbelly of crime and politics in Jamaica.

The people of Tivoli Gardens, where Mr. Coke is reputed to reside, takes action by barricading the roads entering their community on hearing the news of the signing of the extradition order. The security forces are fired upon when they attempted to clear the roads. Witnesses in the area report that the Tivoli community has acquired high power automatic guns with armor piercing capabilities. Its seems like the people in the community represented by the Prime Minister are preparing for a battle.

The people in Tivoli Gardens demonstrate on the streets holding up placards and chanting "Leave Dudus Alone." Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Mr Coke is unknown, the country is tense, and the Prime Minister waits 4 days before issuing a press release urging the people in his constituency to stay calm. There was a previous episode in 2001 where the security forces had to go into Tivoli gardens and were met with armed resistance. At that time up to 27 people died. So now we have a situation where an entire community defends an accused drug kingpin. That same community claims to be a law abiding, but is actually a law upon themselves. Tivoli gardens has essentially declared war against Jamaica by refusing to cooperate with security forces, by  erecting barriers, and by firing on the police.

Now it comes to light that the police officer, who provided the wiretap evidence against Mr Coke, was actually acting legally and with the full knowledge of his superiors. Jamaican Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, who resigned as the Commissioner of Police in October 2009, dropped a bombshell when he asserted that the officer was acting completely within the law. When pressed the Rear Admiral revealed the inescapable conclusion. "The whole political architecture is rotten, it is on shifting sand ... and politicians cannot fix it, we [the Jamaican people] have to do it."

What is the Rear Admiral calling the political architecture. I believe he is refering to the Jamaican Constitution. This constitution allows the Prime Minister to recommend that the Governer-General appoint or remove members of the Police Service Commission. Since the Governer-General can be "directed to exercise any function on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition", it effectively allows the Prime Minister to control law enforcement in such a way that they cannot execute their duties.

The Prime Minister effective rules things. Since the current Prime Minister, Mr. Golding, serves Tivoli Gardens and Dudus Coke is the "President" of Tivoli Gardens. Dudus Coke effectively rules things.