Lessons to be learned from Jamaica
tribune242 editorial:
THERE ARE many lessons that Bahamians, including politicians, can learn from the alarming situation in Jamaica. It was reported late yesterday that at least 30 persons were killed by that country's well armed criminal element, now challenging the state's attempt to arrest their drug lord "president."
For too long the Jamaican police and the government have turned a blind eye to Jamaica's slums. Known as garrisons they have been taken over by criminal dons, who have turned them into their personal kingdoms.
Everything came crashing down last year when the US government moved to have Dudus Coke extradited to the United States on charges of drug and gun running. For nine months Prime Minister Bruce Golding's government fought off the request, finally capitulating and agreeing that Coke should face a Jamaican court where the charges against him would be evaluated for extradition.
"Dudus" was the don, who delivered the votes for Golding's party from West Kingston, so, it is obvious that he expected his "main man" to protect him in his Tivoli Gardens fiefdom.
"Along the pitted and trash-strewn streets of West Kingston," reported Associated Press yesterday, "residents say Coke is feared for his strong-arm tactics, but also is known for helping out slum dwellers with grocery bills, jobs and school fees.
"Coke solidified his authority by taking charge of punishing thieves and other criminals in the ghettos, where the government has little presence and police rarely, if ever, patrol."
Today Tivoli Gardens is fortified with barricades, protected by gangsters with high powered rifles and supporters carrying placards declaring that "Jesus died for us; we will die for Dudus."
Here is a lesson for our own police force. There should be no area in New Providence or any of our islands where the Royal Bahamas Police Force cannot, or do not enter frequently.
And as for our politicians if they were wise they would be very careful of the company they keep. In the past some of them have had very embarrassing experiences.
We recall the support that our own home grown drug lord had when the Americans sent for him. It was surprising the following "Ninety" Knowles had and who were among those who turned out to protest when he was taken to court for his extradition hearing. Everyone knew of his illegal activities, of his own gangs and his own orders that were executed, yet when the time came to pay the piper, all we heard was how Ninety fed his neighbours, paid the school fees and took care of his community. And so, like Dudus, when the time came his supporters gathered round, and marched to the court. Ninety's generosity had solidified him in their hearts and their community, and despite their proud boast that this is a "God fearing" nation, Ninety was one man who could break the Ten Commandments, yet still demand their loyalty. Today he is all but forgotten in a prison cell in the US.
We also recall how drug dealers under the Pindling administration, rightly or wrongly, considered the PLP their party. They agitated for the day when the PLP would be returned to power so that they could get back to "the trade." As a matter of fact the rumour around Eleuthera during the 2002 election was that as soon as the PLP won, the dealers' fast-boats would be in the water, and they would return to their illicit trade. Fortunately, it did not work out that way. But, it certainly should have taught the politicians a lesson.
What is now happening to Prime Minister Golding in Jamaica should underscore for all what can happen when one plays fast and loose with law breakers.
May 26, 2010
tribune242
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Jamaican government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamaican government. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Bahamian history repeats itself in Jamaica
Tribune242 Editorial:
"WE'RE going through very stressful times," a leading Jamaican businessman admitted yesterday as the government of Jamaica and the United States were locked in judicial debate over one of that island's well known "dons" -- "The President of Tivoli", or in real life, Christopher "Dudus" Coke.
Coke controls Tivoli, Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding's constituency. There are those who maintain that it is Coke who keeps peace in Tivoli, and if it were not for him Golding would not be where he is today.
The US's request for Dudus' extradition on a long list of gun and drug trafficking charges sent shock waves through Jamaica. For the past three weeks the Jamaican government has refused the request.
Prime Minister Golding is resisting extradition on the grounds that under Jamaican law the acquisition of the evidence against the Tivoli don, which supports the extradition request, violates the provisions of the Interception of Communications Act. And so, at present, the US request cannot go before a Jamaican court until the Attorney General signs the order. Prime Minister Golding says the attorney general has a "duty to protect the constitutional rights of Coke and not extradite him."
Many Jamaicans question the delay. Some say government should get it before the courts and let the courts make the final decision. But until the attorney general signs, nothing moves forward.
In a sharply worded exchange the State Department said the delays in the Coke case, in addition to the temporary suspension in processing of all other pending requests, raised "serious questions" about the Jamaican Government's commitment to combating transnational crime.
There is even talk in Jamaica that the US law enforcement agents could kidnap Coke and put him before a US court. Apparently, there is no clause in the existing extradition treaty between Jamaica and the US to prevent it. But there is certainly precedent for it. In 1992 US agents kidnapped Alvarez Machain, wanted for kidnapping and murder, from his Mexico home and took him to the US.
Also causing further confusion is the sudden suspension last week of the US visa of another leading Jamaican citizen -- Wayne Chen. The Jamaican government claims that his visa has nothing to do with the Coke case, which has started speculation down another path. Mr Chen is still without his visa.
Many Jamaicans worry that they have been without a US ambassador for a year and three months -- "never before in living memory has that happened," said a citizen in pained surprise.
Which takes us back to the ugly eighties in the Bahamas during Ronald Reagan's administration when this nation had no ambassador for two years. And, yes, drugs was the evil nematode at the bottom of it all.
("Nematode", a favourite word of former attorney general Paul Adderley. In one of his flights of verbal fancy on the floor of the House he called a Tribune reporter a "nematode". However, we think the word better suited to the world of crime than to a reporter trying to do an honest job of reporting during a corrupt era).
During that period the Bahamas-US relations were conducted by US Chargé d'Affaires Andrew Antippas. This situation continued for two years until an ambassador was finally appointed. The Pindling government did not approve of Antippas, nor did Antippas approve of what was happening in the Bahamas on the drug scene. On the eventual arrival of the ambassador, Mr Antippas became the Deputy Chief of Mission. However, the Pindling administration made certain that he did not hold that position for long. They made life so difficult for the Antippases that in order to patch up relations the new ambassador -- a non career diplomat -- had to dismiss Mr Antippas so that "good friends who occasionally disagree" could start to mend fences.
But in 1988, Mr Antippas had the last word. He agreed to testify in the trial of Colombian Joe Lehder who had a free pass to Norman's Cay under the Pindling administration. Norman's Cay became the headquarters of Lehder's drug empire. And Andrew Antippas told the story of how he had to advise the US property owners to abandon their properties and leave the island because the US Embassy could no longer give them protection in the Bahamas.
"I testified to all that I had tried to accomplish against Lehder and the Bahamas' unwillingness to cooperate and that really blew a fuse in Nassau," Mr Antippas told the world.
The same fuse is now being blown in Jamaica. Dudus Coke might as well go quietly, as go he will, dragging Jamaica's reputation in the mud behind him.
March 08, 2010
tribune242
"WE'RE going through very stressful times," a leading Jamaican businessman admitted yesterday as the government of Jamaica and the United States were locked in judicial debate over one of that island's well known "dons" -- "The President of Tivoli", or in real life, Christopher "Dudus" Coke.
Coke controls Tivoli, Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding's constituency. There are those who maintain that it is Coke who keeps peace in Tivoli, and if it were not for him Golding would not be where he is today.
The US's request for Dudus' extradition on a long list of gun and drug trafficking charges sent shock waves through Jamaica. For the past three weeks the Jamaican government has refused the request.
Prime Minister Golding is resisting extradition on the grounds that under Jamaican law the acquisition of the evidence against the Tivoli don, which supports the extradition request, violates the provisions of the Interception of Communications Act. And so, at present, the US request cannot go before a Jamaican court until the Attorney General signs the order. Prime Minister Golding says the attorney general has a "duty to protect the constitutional rights of Coke and not extradite him."
Many Jamaicans question the delay. Some say government should get it before the courts and let the courts make the final decision. But until the attorney general signs, nothing moves forward.
In a sharply worded exchange the State Department said the delays in the Coke case, in addition to the temporary suspension in processing of all other pending requests, raised "serious questions" about the Jamaican Government's commitment to combating transnational crime.
There is even talk in Jamaica that the US law enforcement agents could kidnap Coke and put him before a US court. Apparently, there is no clause in the existing extradition treaty between Jamaica and the US to prevent it. But there is certainly precedent for it. In 1992 US agents kidnapped Alvarez Machain, wanted for kidnapping and murder, from his Mexico home and took him to the US.
Also causing further confusion is the sudden suspension last week of the US visa of another leading Jamaican citizen -- Wayne Chen. The Jamaican government claims that his visa has nothing to do with the Coke case, which has started speculation down another path. Mr Chen is still without his visa.
Many Jamaicans worry that they have been without a US ambassador for a year and three months -- "never before in living memory has that happened," said a citizen in pained surprise.
Which takes us back to the ugly eighties in the Bahamas during Ronald Reagan's administration when this nation had no ambassador for two years. And, yes, drugs was the evil nematode at the bottom of it all.
("Nematode", a favourite word of former attorney general Paul Adderley. In one of his flights of verbal fancy on the floor of the House he called a Tribune reporter a "nematode". However, we think the word better suited to the world of crime than to a reporter trying to do an honest job of reporting during a corrupt era).
During that period the Bahamas-US relations were conducted by US Chargé d'Affaires Andrew Antippas. This situation continued for two years until an ambassador was finally appointed. The Pindling government did not approve of Antippas, nor did Antippas approve of what was happening in the Bahamas on the drug scene. On the eventual arrival of the ambassador, Mr Antippas became the Deputy Chief of Mission. However, the Pindling administration made certain that he did not hold that position for long. They made life so difficult for the Antippases that in order to patch up relations the new ambassador -- a non career diplomat -- had to dismiss Mr Antippas so that "good friends who occasionally disagree" could start to mend fences.
But in 1988, Mr Antippas had the last word. He agreed to testify in the trial of Colombian Joe Lehder who had a free pass to Norman's Cay under the Pindling administration. Norman's Cay became the headquarters of Lehder's drug empire. And Andrew Antippas told the story of how he had to advise the US property owners to abandon their properties and leave the island because the US Embassy could no longer give them protection in the Bahamas.
"I testified to all that I had tried to accomplish against Lehder and the Bahamas' unwillingness to cooperate and that really blew a fuse in Nassau," Mr Antippas told the world.
The same fuse is now being blown in Jamaica. Dudus Coke might as well go quietly, as go he will, dragging Jamaica's reputation in the mud behind him.
March 08, 2010
tribune242
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