Yesterday's proceedings at the Manatt/Coke Commission of Enquiry was a bit oxymoronic, in that:
The expected "heat" between Senator K.D. Knight and Minister Dorothy Lightbourne, just didn't happen. :)
Senator Lightbourne's lawyer - Dr. Lloyd Barnett, ensured that this was so, by his questioning of Min. Lightbourne:
He did so in a long, monotonous voice, with frequent pauses and further prolonged the chance for cross-examination by any PNP lawyer, by submitting document after document to the Commission.
He also allowed Minister Lightbourne to read document after document, even though she should have been familiar with said content.
- A delay tactic that worked well, for no PNP lawyer, including Senator Knight, got the chance to cross-examine Minister Lightbourne.
As further demonstration that this was indeed a delay tactic: when Mr. Frank Phipps QC (who represents the JLP at the Commission), got the chance to question Minister Lightbourne, he did so in 12 minutes and by his questions, summed up what Dr. Barnett had taken over 2.5 hours to do. :)
(Min. Lightbourne was sworn in at minutes to 11:00 a.m. The Commission adjourned from 11:00 -11:30 a.m and from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Thus leaving 2.5 hours for actual Commission proceedings).
What was interesting about yesterday's proceedings was:
1) The fact that Min. Lightbourne stated that she took nine (9) months to reach a decision re Mr.Coke's extradition, as:
a) The evidence presented by the US for it, was insufficient and not legal by Jamaican standards...as wiretapping in Jamaica, is only allowed when seeking to convict and not as a course of operation -apparently Coke was being wire-tapped from 2004.
b) She didn't want to repeat a mistake she had made, earlier in her career, where she extradited someone based on insufficient evidence.
2) Minister Lightbourne stated that she finally decided to extradite Coke, against her better judgement, based on public pressure - from the Church, Human Rights groups and members of the private sector. (This was after the US rescinded visas of prominent Jamaicans to force Jamaica to make a decision to extradite Coke)
3) The presence of JLP big wigs, with female members of the Senate and Parliament (namely, Mrs. Hyacinth Bennett, Minister Baby Grange and Marlene Mahaloo-Forte), sitting directly behind Sen. Lightbourne, in a show of support.
The other JLP big wigs, present, were: Andre Franklin - JLP General Secretary, Ed Baugh - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dwight Nelson - Minister of National Security
4) Even though the Commission has a limited time to get through its proceedings, in order to prepare for Prime Minister Bruce Golding's testimony, next week- it's interesting that most of the lawyers weren't able to work on Saturday to ensure that this happened.
[The Commission doesn't sit on a Friday and will sit from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Monday, in order to get through the proceedings, in a timely manner, so that Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding can testify].
Only two lawyers were willing to have a Saturday sitting of the Commission. One lawyer was even heard commenting that his weekend begins on Thursday...interesting huh?
The Commission resumes on Monday and maybe, just maybe, Senator Knight will get the chance to question Minister Lightbourne.
For by the looks of things, the JLP hopes to stretch out the questioning of Min. Lightbourne, so that PM Golding will get a limited time on the witness stand.
Quite convenient if you ask me, but a wrong move by a party that hopes to win the next General Election.
For if PM Golding cannot complete his testimony on a timely basis, people's view that the Commission is a grand waste of time (as the truth cannot be ascertained), will be cemented.
A move that could backfire, not only against the PM, but the JLP...for a lot of Jamaicans are already complaining about the money (over JMD $40 million) and time spent on this Commission, whose purpose seems to get muddier, with the passage of time.
More anon!
Gillian
Sources Include
1) Television coverage of the Manatt/Coke Commission of Enquiry, via Television Jamaica, March 3, 2011
2) Article, "Manatt enquiry to cost under $40 million", via Go-Jamaica.com, December 1,2010
