From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Jamaicans overseas and the extradition affair
BY Delano Franklyn
Saturday, May 08, 2010
AS it is in Jamaica, the most talked about issue currently among Jamaicans living abroad is the extradition request for Christopher Coke, and how it has been, and is being handled by the Bruce Golding-led administration.
Read the whole column here.
Snippet(s):
"This issue has pushed the divestment of Air Jamaica to the number two position on the list of concerns by Jamaicans living outside Jamaica. While being severely critical of the burial of Air Jamaica by the Government, they have resigned their minds to the fact that despite the attempts of the pilots to keep Air Jamaica in Jamaican hands, the Government, as demanded by the International Monetary Fund, had no option, or was not prepared to consider any other option, but to conclude the deal with Caribbean Airlines.
Some members of the Diaspora in the New York asked why are some members of the JLP Government — for whom they have a lot of respect — such as (from left) Dr Kenneth Baugh, Delroy Chuck, Dwight Nelson, Edmund Bartlett, and Rudyard Spencer silent on the extradition matter."
"Why has the prime minister seen it fit to be leading the defence of a man who is being sought by the State Department for drug- and gun-running?"
"Are (sic) the prime minister prepared to sacrifice his political career as a result of this extradition issue because the person for whom the extradition has been made is a leading member of his own constituency and an alleged 'powerbroker' in the party which he leads?
* Is the prime minister and the other members of his team afraid of what the person whose extradition request is being sought might possibly say about the involvement in criminal activities of any other well-known person or persons in Jamaica?"
&
"The members of the diasporic community, rightly or wrongly, no different from persons living in Jamaica, are not making and seem not to be prepared to delink the issues. They see, for example, the revocation of the visa of Wayne Chen and the entertainers as being linked to the tightening of the screws against Jamaica and Jamaicans because of the Government's refusal to honour the extradition request.
As a result of this view, many Jamaicans living overseas, as well as inside Jamaica are afraid to travel out of fear that they will be told that their visa has been revoked. One middle-class professional who has developed a distinguished career in the area of health in Baltimore, told me that she always visited Jamaica yearly, but she has no plans to visit until this impasse is settled.
A young man in the teaching profession in New York said that he will be visiting Jamaica in July this year and he is extremely fearful that his visa may be revoked when he is returning to the USA; and one Jamaican living in the Hartford area of Connecticut said he knows not what to make of the situation because, if 'Mr Chen's visa can be revoked without prior notice, so can mine', so he is not taking the chance to travel to Jamaica any time soon."
Showing posts with label JLP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JLP. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
JO - Failed state status on the horizon
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Failed state status on the horizon
Mark Wignall
Thursday, May 06, 2010
"You chopping, boy, but no chips are flying." - From the cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn.
One day last week as I allowed myself the opportunity to watch Senator Dwight Nelson, our minister of national security, address the Upper House on security matters, a number of items jumped out at me.
Read the whole column here.
Snippet(s):
"Just recently the new commissioner, Owen Ellington, made the appeal for the people to assist in the push-back against violent criminality, and the commissioner immediately before him, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, told us in 2005 that Tivoli is the "mother of all garrisons". Before him, Lucius Thomas detailed the corruption inside the police force. And just before the JLP election win in September 2007, the JLP proudly strode into power armed with an impressive crime plan authored by ex-commissioner, Colonel Trevor McMillan."
&
"Commissioner Ellington would probably be the last to admit that many of the advances that were made in taking down criminals of the "Mr Big" type happened mostly with the efforts of the British policemen who came in under the last administration when the security ministry was headed by Peter Phillips. Will he admit, though, that too high a percentage of personnel in the JCF are too close to organised criminality? Nah, he won't."
_____
observemark@gmail.com
Jamaica Observer
Failed state status on the horizon
Mark Wignall
Thursday, May 06, 2010
"You chopping, boy, but no chips are flying." - From the cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn.
One day last week as I allowed myself the opportunity to watch Senator Dwight Nelson, our minister of national security, address the Upper House on security matters, a number of items jumped out at me.
Read the whole column here.
Snippet(s):
"Just recently the new commissioner, Owen Ellington, made the appeal for the people to assist in the push-back against violent criminality, and the commissioner immediately before him, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, told us in 2005 that Tivoli is the "mother of all garrisons". Before him, Lucius Thomas detailed the corruption inside the police force. And just before the JLP election win in September 2007, the JLP proudly strode into power armed with an impressive crime plan authored by ex-commissioner, Colonel Trevor McMillan."
&
"Commissioner Ellington would probably be the last to admit that many of the advances that were made in taking down criminals of the "Mr Big" type happened mostly with the efforts of the British policemen who came in under the last administration when the security ministry was headed by Peter Phillips. Will he admit, though, that too high a percentage of personnel in the JCF are too close to organised criminality? Nah, he won't."
_____
observemark@gmail.com
Sunday, April 18, 2010
JO - Hail to the republic?
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Hail to the republic?
Lloyd B Smith
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
IT has been said that hindsight is 20/20 vision. Hindsight has to do with the understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened. Bruce Golding is caught in such a pickle with respect to the Dudus (Christopher Coke) affair. In retrospect, Mr Golding should not have yielded to the temptation of being enthroned as the member of parliament for West Kingston (popularly called Tivoli Gardens).
Read the whole column here.
Snippet(s):
"(T)he JLP, perhaps for the first time in its long, illustrious history, has found itself at odds with Jamaica's and its greatest ally, the United States of America! It must be remembered that while the leftist People's National Party has been known in the past to adopt a certain anti-American stance, especially during the height of the Cold War (think Cuba and Fidel Castro), the JLP was always totally in the bosom of Uncle Sam. Indeed, many decades ago when its maximum leader and founder Sir Alexander Bustamante was asked by reporters what was the JLP's foreign policy, he quipped, “We are with the West!” This in essence meant that the JLP was with the USA, the bastion of western civilisation, democracy and civilisation."
"(A)s colleague columnist Mark Wignall outlined in his Sunday Observer article, there is likely to be a major social fallout (and perhaps economic too), if Dudus Coke, the Big Man, is extradited to the United States. But outside of this likely outcome, there are also serious implications for the ruling JLP whose leader could well be declared persona non grata in his own constituency if he should be party to such a perceived collusion with the US State Department."
&
"In the meantime, the political fallout has begun, with many Jamaicans feeling that they will not be able to get a US visa or the one they have may be terminated. One youth man last week declared to me in a most chagrined mood that he was not going to bother to go the US Embassy because he knows he will not get a visa. Meanwhile, many Jamaicans from all walks of life will be approaching their travel to the USA with great trepidation as they will hear that their visa has been cancelled only when they arrive at the airport to board a flight. Blame it on Bruce? The US State Department has so far denied any such linkage, but in politics perception can break or make you."
Jamaica Observer
Hail to the republic?
Lloyd B Smith
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
IT has been said that hindsight is 20/20 vision. Hindsight has to do with the understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened. Bruce Golding is caught in such a pickle with respect to the Dudus (Christopher Coke) affair. In retrospect, Mr Golding should not have yielded to the temptation of being enthroned as the member of parliament for West Kingston (popularly called Tivoli Gardens).
Read the whole column here.
Snippet(s):
"(T)he JLP, perhaps for the first time in its long, illustrious history, has found itself at odds with Jamaica's and its greatest ally, the United States of America! It must be remembered that while the leftist People's National Party has been known in the past to adopt a certain anti-American stance, especially during the height of the Cold War (think Cuba and Fidel Castro), the JLP was always totally in the bosom of Uncle Sam. Indeed, many decades ago when its maximum leader and founder Sir Alexander Bustamante was asked by reporters what was the JLP's foreign policy, he quipped, “We are with the West!” This in essence meant that the JLP was with the USA, the bastion of western civilisation, democracy and civilisation."
"(A)s colleague columnist Mark Wignall outlined in his Sunday Observer article, there is likely to be a major social fallout (and perhaps economic too), if Dudus Coke, the Big Man, is extradited to the United States. But outside of this likely outcome, there are also serious implications for the ruling JLP whose leader could well be declared persona non grata in his own constituency if he should be party to such a perceived collusion with the US State Department."
&
"In the meantime, the political fallout has begun, with many Jamaicans feeling that they will not be able to get a US visa or the one they have may be terminated. One youth man last week declared to me in a most chagrined mood that he was not going to bother to go the US Embassy because he knows he will not get a visa. Meanwhile, many Jamaicans from all walks of life will be approaching their travel to the USA with great trepidation as they will hear that their visa has been cancelled only when they arrive at the airport to board a flight. Blame it on Bruce? The US State Department has so far denied any such linkage, but in politics perception can break or make you."
Sunday, April 11, 2010
JG - When politicians go naked
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
When politicians go naked
Published: Sunday March 7, 2010
In 2005, then Opposition Leader Bruce Golding (right), member of parliament for West Kingston, and Jamaica Labour Party Deputy Leader James Robertson (centre) and party member André Franklin rushed to the scene of a major police-military operation in...
From left, government Members of Parliament Omar Davies, Peter Phillips and Karl Blythe were seen at Willie Haggart's funeral on May 8, 2001. Haggart was a well known 'don' at the time of his death.
Left: Camille Coke (left) weeps as she stands beside her mother, Beverley, viewing the body of Lester Lloyd Coke alias 'Jim Brown' who was laid to rest in 1992. Brown, the father of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, was the acclaimed 'don' of West Kingston. Then Opposition Leader Hon Edward Seaga is in the background with then Senator Olivia 'Babsy' Grange just in front of him.
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Local politicians' defiant flirtations with garrison communities over many years - in the face of dire warnings that this could have grave implications - are coming back to bite the Bruce Golding administration in its ongoing extradition tussle with the United States.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Since last week's release of a damning report by the US State Department chastising the Government for its handling of the extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, Jamaicans have applied colourful phrases to capture and describe the predicament in which the Golding administration finds itself."
"That Prime Minister Bruce Golding is the parliamentary representative of West Kingston, which includes the Tivoli Gardens community, has not helped.
Coke has been unofficially anointed 'President' of Tivoli Gardens, dubbed the "mother of all garrisons," an uncomplimentary title attributed to the community by former Jamaica Defence Force Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin."
"Golding told the House of Representatives last Tuesday that Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne had not signed the extradition order against Coke because the surveillance evidence that the US submitted contravened local laws.
The prime minister's insistence that the constitutional rights of every Jamaican must be protected was met with scepticism from many.
Gomes likened Golding to the main character in the story titled The Emperor's New Clothes . "I think the politicians are naked. The public expressions and the vox pops are supporting this point," she declared."
&
"It is the first time since the Mutual Assistance Treaty was signed in 1992 that an extradition request has generated such a furore.
The extradition foul-up, which dispatched Richard 'Storyteller' Morrison to the United States in 1992 and precipitated a diplomatic tiff between the P.J. Patterson administration and the US, pales in comparison.
Even the extradition request of 1992, which landed Coke's father, Lester Lloyd Coke aka 'Jim Brown', behind bars, was not nearly as controversial."
_____
gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com
Jamaica Gleaner
When politicians go naked
Published: Sunday March 7, 2010
In 2005, then Opposition Leader Bruce Golding (right), member of parliament for West Kingston, and Jamaica Labour Party Deputy Leader James Robertson (centre) and party member André Franklin rushed to the scene of a major police-military operation in...
From left, government Members of Parliament Omar Davies, Peter Phillips and Karl Blythe were seen at Willie Haggart's funeral on May 8, 2001. Haggart was a well known 'don' at the time of his death.
Left: Camille Coke (left) weeps as she stands beside her mother, Beverley, viewing the body of Lester Lloyd Coke alias 'Jim Brown' who was laid to rest in 1992. Brown, the father of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, was the acclaimed 'don' of West Kingston. Then Opposition Leader Hon Edward Seaga is in the background with then Senator Olivia 'Babsy' Grange just in front of him.
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Local politicians' defiant flirtations with garrison communities over many years - in the face of dire warnings that this could have grave implications - are coming back to bite the Bruce Golding administration in its ongoing extradition tussle with the United States.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Since last week's release of a damning report by the US State Department chastising the Government for its handling of the extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, Jamaicans have applied colourful phrases to capture and describe the predicament in which the Golding administration finds itself."
"That Prime Minister Bruce Golding is the parliamentary representative of West Kingston, which includes the Tivoli Gardens community, has not helped.
Coke has been unofficially anointed 'President' of Tivoli Gardens, dubbed the "mother of all garrisons," an uncomplimentary title attributed to the community by former Jamaica Defence Force Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin."
"Golding told the House of Representatives last Tuesday that Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne had not signed the extradition order against Coke because the surveillance evidence that the US submitted contravened local laws.
The prime minister's insistence that the constitutional rights of every Jamaican must be protected was met with scepticism from many.
Gomes likened Golding to the main character in the story titled The Emperor's New Clothes . "I think the politicians are naked. The public expressions and the vox pops are supporting this point," she declared."
&
"It is the first time since the Mutual Assistance Treaty was signed in 1992 that an extradition request has generated such a furore.
The extradition foul-up, which dispatched Richard 'Storyteller' Morrison to the United States in 1992 and precipitated a diplomatic tiff between the P.J. Patterson administration and the US, pales in comparison.
Even the extradition request of 1992, which landed Coke's father, Lester Lloyd Coke aka 'Jim Brown', behind bars, was not nearly as controversial."
_____
gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com
Friday, April 2, 2010
JG - EDITORIAL - Where is the 'Dudus' Coke case?
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
EDITORIAL - Where is the 'Dudus' Coke case?
Published: Sunday February 28, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Fifteen years ago when Bruce Golding began aggressively to seek the job of prime minister of Jamaica, he didn't merely lodge his application. He also wrote his own job description, accompanied by a business plan for the overhaul of the country.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The core of Mr Golding's proposal was the reform of politics and to run a government that was moral. Critical to this restructuring would be, in the language of the period, the dismantling of political garrisons. Mr Golding would not cavort, directly or otherwise, with the enforcers of these zones of political exclusions, that have morphed fertile territory of violence, extortion and other forms of criminality."
"In the context of a functioning liberal democracy this would have been no big deal, but by the standards of Jamaica's often dysfunctional political arrangements, Mr Golding would have been aware that he was setting a high bar for himself. But he was willing, Mr Golding assured Jamaicans, to pay, if necessary, a political price for having a serious go at this transformation."
"It is nearly half a year since the US government requested the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, ostensibly a businessman, but who the Americans accuse of smuggling narcotics into their country and running guns from the United States to Jamaica."
"Mr Golding's justice minister, Ms Dorothy Lightbourne, has so far declined to sign the extradition order so that the Jamaican courts can determine whether the Americans have established a prime facie case against Mr Coke. The Jamaican government has asked the Americans for more and better particulars about the indictment. The government insists that it is protecting the constitutional rights of a Jamaican citizen.
The problem for the administration is that neither the United States nor a large swathe of the Jamaican population believes that."
&
"Mr Coke happens to be based in West Kingston, Mr Golding's parliamentary constituency, whose political epicentre is Tivoli Gardens, which is considered by many as a kind of command and control centre of the governing Jamaica Labour Party. Mr Coke, as benefactor, is considered to be a man of great power and influence in West Kingston and elsewhere, which he 'inherited' from his father, Lester Coke, or Jim Brown, who the Americans also tried to extradite. It is presumed that Mr Coke's actions can influence the political fortunes of the JLP and that to touch him might ignite a volatile security powder keg.
However, the Americans have made it apparent that despite the Government's clunking dance, they still want Mr Coke, as was made clear by Julissa Reynoso, deputy assistant secretary of state, when she visited Jamaica last month and met with Foreign Minister Ken Baugh."
Jamaica Gleaner
EDITORIAL - Where is the 'Dudus' Coke case?
Published: Sunday February 28, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Fifteen years ago when Bruce Golding began aggressively to seek the job of prime minister of Jamaica, he didn't merely lodge his application. He also wrote his own job description, accompanied by a business plan for the overhaul of the country.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The core of Mr Golding's proposal was the reform of politics and to run a government that was moral. Critical to this restructuring would be, in the language of the period, the dismantling of political garrisons. Mr Golding would not cavort, directly or otherwise, with the enforcers of these zones of political exclusions, that have morphed fertile territory of violence, extortion and other forms of criminality."
"In the context of a functioning liberal democracy this would have been no big deal, but by the standards of Jamaica's often dysfunctional political arrangements, Mr Golding would have been aware that he was setting a high bar for himself. But he was willing, Mr Golding assured Jamaicans, to pay, if necessary, a political price for having a serious go at this transformation."
"It is nearly half a year since the US government requested the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, ostensibly a businessman, but who the Americans accuse of smuggling narcotics into their country and running guns from the United States to Jamaica."
"Mr Golding's justice minister, Ms Dorothy Lightbourne, has so far declined to sign the extradition order so that the Jamaican courts can determine whether the Americans have established a prime facie case against Mr Coke. The Jamaican government has asked the Americans for more and better particulars about the indictment. The government insists that it is protecting the constitutional rights of a Jamaican citizen.
The problem for the administration is that neither the United States nor a large swathe of the Jamaican population believes that."
&
"Mr Coke happens to be based in West Kingston, Mr Golding's parliamentary constituency, whose political epicentre is Tivoli Gardens, which is considered by many as a kind of command and control centre of the governing Jamaica Labour Party. Mr Coke, as benefactor, is considered to be a man of great power and influence in West Kingston and elsewhere, which he 'inherited' from his father, Lester Coke, or Jim Brown, who the Americans also tried to extradite. It is presumed that Mr Coke's actions can influence the political fortunes of the JLP and that to touch him might ignite a volatile security powder keg.
However, the Americans have made it apparent that despite the Government's clunking dance, they still want Mr Coke, as was made clear by Julissa Reynoso, deputy assistant secretary of state, when she visited Jamaica last month and met with Foreign Minister Ken Baugh."
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
JO - '...It would be admissible in evidence'
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
'...It would be admissible in evidence'
Friday, March 05, 2010
Dear Editor,
If, as the prime minister said in Parliament on Tuesday, indictment against Christopher "Dudus" Coke was secured by illegally obtained evidence, which in my opinion, is inadmissible in the United States, the government of Jamaica is absolutely correct in not extraditing Mr Coke, whether or not Mr Coke is friend or foe, and it is immaterial if Mr Coke is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party or even a friend or brother of the prime minister.
Read the whole letter here.
_____
Owen S Crosbie
Barrister-at-Law
Mandeville, Manchester
oss@cwjamaica.com
Jamaica Observer
'...It would be admissible in evidence'
Friday, March 05, 2010
Dear Editor,
If, as the prime minister said in Parliament on Tuesday, indictment against Christopher "Dudus" Coke was secured by illegally obtained evidence, which in my opinion, is inadmissible in the United States, the government of Jamaica is absolutely correct in not extraditing Mr Coke, whether or not Mr Coke is friend or foe, and it is immaterial if Mr Coke is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party or even a friend or brother of the prime minister.
Read the whole letter here.
_____
Owen S Crosbie
Barrister-at-Law
Mandeville, Manchester
oss@cwjamaica.com
Sunday, March 21, 2010
JO - What say you?
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
What say you?
Friday, March 05, 2010
Dear Editor,
The political quandary in which the government has found itself vis-a-vis the Dudus Coke extradition saga is one that generates no envy. What it does generate for me, however, is a sense of empathy and concern. The empathy of which I speak goes to the heart of one of the points made by Prime Minister Golding in Parliament recently. He made the point, though not directly, that lest we have convenient amnesia, donmanship is not the preserve of the JLP and therefore the shoe could easily have been on the other foot.
Read the whole letter here.
_____
Dr Richard Kitson-Walters
Maryland, USA
k-w@comcast.net
Jamaica Observer
What say you?
Friday, March 05, 2010
Dear Editor,
The political quandary in which the government has found itself vis-a-vis the Dudus Coke extradition saga is one that generates no envy. What it does generate for me, however, is a sense of empathy and concern. The empathy of which I speak goes to the heart of one of the points made by Prime Minister Golding in Parliament recently. He made the point, though not directly, that lest we have convenient amnesia, donmanship is not the preserve of the JLP and therefore the shoe could easily have been on the other foot.
Read the whole letter here.
_____
Dr Richard Kitson-Walters
Maryland, USA
k-w@comcast.net
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
JO - Inside the West Portland election
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Inside the West Portland election
BY DON ANDERSON
Historical perspective
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The recently completed by-election in West Portland generated a considerable degree of national interest, not because of the dual citizenship issue which brought it about, but moreso because of the critical importance to both parties, with the JLP majority in Parliament being razor thin.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Despite the strong PNP core support, Rowe would still face an uphill task, as this was matched by equally strong core support for the JLP. The difficulty he faced winning the seat was further heightened by the fact that he had just three weeks to overturn the momentum of 18 months of Vaz's activity in the area. His dual citizenship status was not an issue, however much there were attempts to make it seem so on moral grounds."
Jamaica Observer
Inside the West Portland election
BY DON ANDERSON
Historical perspective
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The recently completed by-election in West Portland generated a considerable degree of national interest, not because of the dual citizenship issue which brought it about, but moreso because of the critical importance to both parties, with the JLP majority in Parliament being razor thin.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Despite the strong PNP core support, Rowe would still face an uphill task, as this was matched by equally strong core support for the JLP. The difficulty he faced winning the seat was further heightened by the fact that he had just three weeks to overturn the momentum of 18 months of Vaz's activity in the area. His dual citizenship status was not an issue, however much there were attempts to make it seem so on moral grounds."
Thursday, May 21, 2009
JO - How the west was won. and lost
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
How the west was won. and lost
It was bigger than Rowe, says Cliff Hughes
BY KIMONE THOMPSON Observer Senior Reporter Special Coverage Unit specialcoverageunit@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, March 29, 2009
ANALYSTS agree that Daryl Vaz edged out Kenneth Rowe for the West Portland seat in last Monday's by-election through a combination of visibility and performance in his constituency and organisation at the party level.
Cliff Hughes
But more important than what Daryl and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) did, they say, was what Kenneth and the People's National Party (PNP) didn't.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Rowe was rejected in 2002 when he ran on a JLP ticket against the PNP's Errol Ennis. In 2006, he lost the bid to represent the constituency as caretaker to Daryl Vaz. He then defected to the PNP and snatched the candidacy from Abe Dabdoub who lost his court bid to get the seat from Vaz on grounds he had dual citizenship. "
&
""More than anything else, I think they would have said that Rowe was a former JLP man who contested two elections - national elections in 2002 and party election in 2005 - in which he lost to Vaz and therefore is a former supporter of the JLP. I think that would probably have more impact on the outcome of the election than the question of dual citizenship because it didn't really come out in any anecdotal information that we have been able to gather," said Anderson."
Jamaica Observer
How the west was won. and lost
It was bigger than Rowe, says Cliff Hughes
BY KIMONE THOMPSON Observer Senior Reporter Special Coverage Unit specialcoverageunit@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, March 29, 2009
ANALYSTS agree that Daryl Vaz edged out Kenneth Rowe for the West Portland seat in last Monday's by-election through a combination of visibility and performance in his constituency and organisation at the party level.
Cliff Hughes
But more important than what Daryl and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) did, they say, was what Kenneth and the People's National Party (PNP) didn't.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Rowe was rejected in 2002 when he ran on a JLP ticket against the PNP's Errol Ennis. In 2006, he lost the bid to represent the constituency as caretaker to Daryl Vaz. He then defected to the PNP and snatched the candidacy from Abe Dabdoub who lost his court bid to get the seat from Vaz on grounds he had dual citizenship. "
&
""More than anything else, I think they would have said that Rowe was a former JLP man who contested two elections - national elections in 2002 and party election in 2005 - in which he lost to Vaz and therefore is a former supporter of the JLP. I think that would probably have more impact on the outcome of the election than the question of dual citizenship because it didn't really come out in any anecdotal information that we have been able to gather," said Anderson."
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
JO - How the West (Portland) was won.
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
How the West (Portland) was won.
Three Portia Simpson Millers could not take me out - Vaz
By Desmond Allen Executive Editor Special Coverage Unit specialcoverageunit@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, March 29, 2009
DARYL Vaz didn't think he was being pompous when he declared on nomination day for the West Portland by-election that he would win by over 2,000 votes. And it didn't bother him that not even close Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) colleagues took him seriously. In the end, he won by 2,294.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Vaz discloses that he worked to convert loyal PNP supporters and did. "They chose performance over loyalty." But he admits to some element of luck, at the expense of Abe Dabdoub, his erstwhile opponent in the general election, and the PNP campaign focus.
"The court action over dual citizenship sensitised the people of West Portland and threw the spotlight on the fact that I was working. They were not going to leave me after that. Got a lot of support and commitment from non-JLP supporters," he says. "
Jamaica Observer
How the West (Portland) was won.
Three Portia Simpson Millers could not take me out - Vaz
By Desmond Allen Executive Editor Special Coverage Unit specialcoverageunit@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, March 29, 2009
DARYL Vaz didn't think he was being pompous when he declared on nomination day for the West Portland by-election that he would win by over 2,000 votes. And it didn't bother him that not even close Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) colleagues took him seriously. In the end, he won by 2,294.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Vaz discloses that he worked to convert loyal PNP supporters and did. "They chose performance over loyalty." But he admits to some element of luck, at the expense of Abe Dabdoub, his erstwhile opponent in the general election, and the PNP campaign focus.
"The court action over dual citizenship sensitised the people of West Portland and threw the spotlight on the fact that I was working. They were not going to leave me after that. Got a lot of support and commitment from non-JLP supporters," he says. "
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
JG - ABSURDITIES - Balancing political and economic rights
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
ABSURDITIES - Balancing political and economic rights
published: Sunday June 29, 2008
Robert Buddan, Contributor
Bruce Golding says it is a constitutional absurdity that a Commonwealth citizen can vote and be elected to the Jamaican Parliament after spending only a year in Jamaica, while a Jamaican citizen who lives overseas and is a citizen of another country cannot be elected here.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"A foreigner, Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth can, and is encouraged to invest, that is, buy and own any amount of prime agricultural land and mineral resources, beachfront property and assets of all kinds which most Jamaicans cannot afford to own, but at the same time those same Jamaicans can constitutionally vote and be elected to the country's Parliament and become prime minister.
In other words, one has to be a Jamaican citizen to be prime minister but anyone can own Jamaica."
"Is it really the right to sit in Parliament that it should be talking about, or the right as citizens to come first in economic opportunities?
It was not absurd when the parliamentary committee with representatives from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP) considering the Jamaican independence constitution agreed to allow Jamaicans the right to enjoy dual citizenship and all the economic, social, civil and political rights of Jamaicans even if they were born or lived abroad and chose to have dual citizenship, a magnanimous gesture, except only for the proviso that they would not be allowed to serve in sensitive offices of the state."
&
"We still have not resolved the absurdity of having a Queen of England as our monarch, who has refused to apologise for enslaving us and who requires us to have a visa to come and visit her country."
_____
Robert Buddan lectures in the Department of Government, UWI, Mona. Email: robert.buddan@uwimona.edu.jm.
Jamaica Gleaner
ABSURDITIES - Balancing political and economic rights
published: Sunday June 29, 2008
Robert Buddan, Contributor
Bruce Golding says it is a constitutional absurdity that a Commonwealth citizen can vote and be elected to the Jamaican Parliament after spending only a year in Jamaica, while a Jamaican citizen who lives overseas and is a citizen of another country cannot be elected here.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"A foreigner, Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth can, and is encouraged to invest, that is, buy and own any amount of prime agricultural land and mineral resources, beachfront property and assets of all kinds which most Jamaicans cannot afford to own, but at the same time those same Jamaicans can constitutionally vote and be elected to the country's Parliament and become prime minister.
In other words, one has to be a Jamaican citizen to be prime minister but anyone can own Jamaica."
"Is it really the right to sit in Parliament that it should be talking about, or the right as citizens to come first in economic opportunities?
It was not absurd when the parliamentary committee with representatives from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP) considering the Jamaican independence constitution agreed to allow Jamaicans the right to enjoy dual citizenship and all the economic, social, civil and political rights of Jamaicans even if they were born or lived abroad and chose to have dual citizenship, a magnanimous gesture, except only for the proviso that they would not be allowed to serve in sensitive offices of the state."
&
"We still have not resolved the absurdity of having a Queen of England as our monarch, who has refused to apologise for enslaving us and who requires us to have a visa to come and visit her country."
_____
Robert Buddan lectures in the Department of Government, UWI, Mona. Email: robert.buddan@uwimona.edu.jm.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
JG - 'What a waste!' - Gov't MP says Jamaica could have done without $30m by-election
Jamaica Gleaner
'What a waste!' - Gov't MP says Jamaica could have done without $30m by-election
Published: Wednesday April 1, 2009
Daryl Vaz (left) is congratulated by his father, Douglas Vaz, after being sworn in as member of parliament for West Portland yesterday, while Senator Arthur Williams and a visitor look on from the well. The elder Vaz is a former minister in the Jamaica Labour Party government of the 1980s. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
While welcoming her Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) colleague, Daryl Vaz, back to the House of Representatives yesterday, Shahine Robinson, the member of parliament for North East St Ann, declared the West Portland by-election was an "unnecessary waste" of taxpayer dollars.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Vaz was ejected from Parliament after the court held that at the time of his nomination for the September 2007 general election, he had pledged allegiance to the United States and, therefore, was disqualified from sitting as a parliamentarian."
'What a waste!' - Gov't MP says Jamaica could have done without $30m by-election
Published: Wednesday April 1, 2009
Daryl Vaz (left) is congratulated by his father, Douglas Vaz, after being sworn in as member of parliament for West Portland yesterday, while Senator Arthur Williams and a visitor look on from the well. The elder Vaz is a former minister in the Jamaica Labour Party government of the 1980s. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
While welcoming her Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) colleague, Daryl Vaz, back to the House of Representatives yesterday, Shahine Robinson, the member of parliament for North East St Ann, declared the West Portland by-election was an "unnecessary waste" of taxpayer dollars.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Vaz was ejected from Parliament after the court held that at the time of his nomination for the September 2007 general election, he had pledged allegiance to the United States and, therefore, was disqualified from sitting as a parliamentarian."
Sunday, April 5, 2009
JO - Court says by-election. Vaz, Dabdoub to face voters again for West Portland seat.
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Court says by-election
Vaz, Dabdoub to face voters again for West Portland seat
PAUL HENRY, Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
WEST Portlanders will be going to the polls in March to select a member of parliament following the Court of Appeal's refusal yesterday to hand over the seat to People's National Party (PNP) candidate Abe Dabdoub who had waged a long and intricate legal battle to unseat the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP's) Daryl Vaz.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Dabdoub had asked justices Seymour Panton, Algernon Smith and Karl Harrison to disqualify Vaz on the ground that Vaz held US citizenship and hand him (Dabdoub) the West Portland seat.
The justices, however, upheld the April 11, 2008 ruling of Chief Justice Zaila McCalla that a by-election be held upon Vaz's disqualification."
"Following the ruling, Vaz, who last year renounced his US citizenship to contest the by-election, said he was relieved that the court did not hand over the seat to Dabdoub."
"A disappointed Jalil Dabdoub, the junior counsel for Abe Dabdoub, said the ruling was a "blow to democracy" and did not rule out the possibility of an appeal to the London-based Privy Council where, according some legal minds, the matter could be taken as a constitutional issue."
Jamaica Observer
Court says by-election
Vaz, Dabdoub to face voters again for West Portland seat
PAUL HENRY, Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
WEST Portlanders will be going to the polls in March to select a member of parliament following the Court of Appeal's refusal yesterday to hand over the seat to People's National Party (PNP) candidate Abe Dabdoub who had waged a long and intricate legal battle to unseat the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP's) Daryl Vaz.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Dabdoub had asked justices Seymour Panton, Algernon Smith and Karl Harrison to disqualify Vaz on the ground that Vaz held US citizenship and hand him (Dabdoub) the West Portland seat.
The justices, however, upheld the April 11, 2008 ruling of Chief Justice Zaila McCalla that a by-election be held upon Vaz's disqualification."
"Following the ruling, Vaz, who last year renounced his US citizenship to contest the by-election, said he was relieved that the court did not hand over the seat to Dabdoub."
"A disappointed Jalil Dabdoub, the junior counsel for Abe Dabdoub, said the ruling was a "blow to democracy" and did not rule out the possibility of an appeal to the London-based Privy Council where, according some legal minds, the matter could be taken as a constitutional issue."
Saturday, April 4, 2009
JO - West Portland Labourites celebrate Court ruling
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
West Portland Labourites celebrate Court ruling
ERICA VIRTUE, Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
BUFF BAY, Portland - Not even the heavy and intermittent showers from overnight and into the morning could prevent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters from coming out into the streets and celebrating yesterday's ruling by the Appeal Court in the Daryl Vaz vs Abe Dabdoub dual citizenship case.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"BUFF BAY, Portland - Jamaica Labour Party supporters in Buff Bay celebrate yesterday's Court of Appeal decision that a by-election be held to fill the West Portland seat, following the disqualification of Daryl Vaz, who was declared unfit to sit in the House of Representatives because of his dual citizenship."
Jamaica Observer
West Portland Labourites celebrate Court ruling
ERICA VIRTUE, Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
BUFF BAY, Portland - Not even the heavy and intermittent showers from overnight and into the morning could prevent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters from coming out into the streets and celebrating yesterday's ruling by the Appeal Court in the Daryl Vaz vs Abe Dabdoub dual citizenship case.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"BUFF BAY, Portland - Jamaica Labour Party supporters in Buff Bay celebrate yesterday's Court of Appeal decision that a by-election be held to fill the West Portland seat, following the disqualification of Daryl Vaz, who was declared unfit to sit in the House of Representatives because of his dual citizenship."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
JG - West Portland: Holding the balance in Jamaica's democracy
Jamaica Gleaner
West Portland: Holding the balance in Jamaica's democracy
Published: Sunday March 15, 2009
Robert Buddan - POLITICS OF OUR TIME
The 2007 general elections were not quite settled. They were only a partial settlement convenient in order to have government and offset a possible constitutional crisis. The unsettled issues went to court.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The court was asked whether Daryl Vaz, who held dual citizenship, was qualified under the constitution to have a seat in parliament, and whether a by-election should be held or the seat awarded to Abe Dabdoub. The court decided that he should not have a seat and a by-election should be held."
"(T)here is a feeling in the PNP that the JLP had known before the elections that some of its candidates had held dual citizenship and had them nominated, believing them to be the persons with the best chance to win."
&
"Dabdoub won't be in a position to get the seat he felt he deserved. But he has been vindicated by the court's ruling that Vaz was not qualified to be nominated and sit as a member of parliament. He has done Jamaica's constitution and the democracy it upholds a great service. In fact, this election might be seen as a battle for the integrity of the constitution."
__________
Robert Buddan lectures in the Department of Government, UWI, Mona Campus. Email: Robert.Buddan@uwimona.edu.jm or columns@gleanerjm.com
West Portland: Holding the balance in Jamaica's democracy
Published: Sunday March 15, 2009
Robert Buddan - POLITICS OF OUR TIME
The 2007 general elections were not quite settled. They were only a partial settlement convenient in order to have government and offset a possible constitutional crisis. The unsettled issues went to court.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The court was asked whether Daryl Vaz, who held dual citizenship, was qualified under the constitution to have a seat in parliament, and whether a by-election should be held or the seat awarded to Abe Dabdoub. The court decided that he should not have a seat and a by-election should be held."
"(T)here is a feeling in the PNP that the JLP had known before the elections that some of its candidates had held dual citizenship and had them nominated, believing them to be the persons with the best chance to win."
&
"Dabdoub won't be in a position to get the seat he felt he deserved. But he has been vindicated by the court's ruling that Vaz was not qualified to be nominated and sit as a member of parliament. He has done Jamaica's constitution and the democracy it upholds a great service. In fact, this election might be seen as a battle for the integrity of the constitution."
__________
Robert Buddan lectures in the Department of Government, UWI, Mona Campus. Email: Robert.Buddan@uwimona.edu.jm or columns@gleanerjm.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
JO - Garrisons
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Garrisons
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Dear Editor,
I wish to endorse recent suggestions by former PNP MP Miss Heather Robinson and NDM general secretary Mike Williams for the current leaders of the JLP and PNP to walk away from their respective "garrison" seats.
Read the whole letter here.
__________
Peter Townsend
NDM
Kingston
Jamaica Observer
Garrisons
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Dear Editor,
I wish to endorse recent suggestions by former PNP MP Miss Heather Robinson and NDM general secretary Mike Williams for the current leaders of the JLP and PNP to walk away from their respective "garrison" seats.
Read the whole letter here.
__________
Peter Townsend
NDM
Kingston
Friday, March 20, 2009
JO - Dabdoub going back to court. Wants to verify Vaz's citizenship.
Jamaica Observer
Dabdoub going back to court
Wants to verify Vaz's citizenship
BY ERICA VIRTUE Sunday Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Abe Dabdoub, whose legal action in 2007 led to the disqualification of Daryl Vaz as the Portland Western member of parliament, said he will be heading to the courts again on Monday to ascertain the veracity of Vaz's citizenship.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Dabdoub, who lost the seat to Vaz in the September 2007 general elections, asked Director of Elections Orette Fisher if he had ascertained whether Vaz is now a Jamaican citizen.
VAZ... went to US Embassy in Kingston in April 2008 to start the process of renouncing his American citizenship
Dabdoub's query was in reference to Vaz's much-publicised act of going to the US Embassy in Kingston to start the process of renouncing his American citizenship in April 2008.
Vaz took the action after Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, on reviewing an election petition brought by Dabdoub, ruled that Vaz was not qualified to sit in the Parliament because he held dual citizenship at the time of the elections."
&
"Dabdoub, a former member of the JLP, signalled that he did not believe that Vaz had renounced his US citizenship."
Dabdoub going back to court
Wants to verify Vaz's citizenship
BY ERICA VIRTUE Sunday Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Abe Dabdoub, whose legal action in 2007 led to the disqualification of Daryl Vaz as the Portland Western member of parliament, said he will be heading to the courts again on Monday to ascertain the veracity of Vaz's citizenship.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Dabdoub, who lost the seat to Vaz in the September 2007 general elections, asked Director of Elections Orette Fisher if he had ascertained whether Vaz is now a Jamaican citizen.
VAZ... went to US Embassy in Kingston in April 2008 to start the process of renouncing his American citizenship
Dabdoub's query was in reference to Vaz's much-publicised act of going to the US Embassy in Kingston to start the process of renouncing his American citizenship in April 2008.
Vaz took the action after Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, on reviewing an election petition brought by Dabdoub, ruled that Vaz was not qualified to sit in the Parliament because he held dual citizenship at the time of the elections."
&
"Dabdoub, a former member of the JLP, signalled that he did not believe that Vaz had renounced his US citizenship."
Thursday, March 5, 2009
JG - Abe doubtful - PNP struggles to find candidate for West Portland
Jamaica Gleaner
Abe doubtful - PNP struggles to find candidate for West Portland
Published: Sunday March 1, 2009
With five days to nomination day in West Portland, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) is yet to settle on a candidate to face off with Jamaica Labour Party's Daryl Vaz for the seat.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The Court of Appeal ousted the Jamaica Labour party (JAP) Daryl Vaz as Member of Parliament on Friday when it upheld a ruling that Vaz was not eligible to sit in Parliament as he had pledge allegiance to a foreign power.
Vaz at the time of his nomination had American citizenship. He has since renounced it."
Abe doubtful - PNP struggles to find candidate for West Portland
Published: Sunday March 1, 2009
With five days to nomination day in West Portland, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) is yet to settle on a candidate to face off with Jamaica Labour Party's Daryl Vaz for the seat.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The Court of Appeal ousted the Jamaica Labour party (JAP) Daryl Vaz as Member of Parliament on Friday when it upheld a ruling that Vaz was not eligible to sit in Parliament as he had pledge allegiance to a foreign power.
Vaz at the time of his nomination had American citizenship. He has since renounced it."
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
JO - Proud of you, Mr Karl Samuda
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Observer
Proud of you, Mr Karl Samuda
Sunday, July 13, 2008
"If the Spanish armada landed on our shores with all the gold in the world, they must comply with our rules." These are the words of Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Mr Karl Samuda, words by which he and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration will live or die.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The minister's response would have reassured Jamaicans that when we seek investment it is not about looking handouts, and therefore not that investors are doing us any favours.
We believe and know that they are here to make a profit, and for our part, we seek jobs and development of our country in return.
It's a partnership of mutual interest and respect."
&
"Jamaica might eventually come to thank Mr Samuda for that moment of enlightened self-interest when he refused to sell Jamaica out for 30 pieces of Spanish silver.
Like the rest of the country, we're proud of you, Karl Samuda."
Jamaica Observer
Proud of you, Mr Karl Samuda
Sunday, July 13, 2008
"If the Spanish armada landed on our shores with all the gold in the world, they must comply with our rules." These are the words of Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Mr Karl Samuda, words by which he and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration will live or die.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The minister's response would have reassured Jamaicans that when we seek investment it is not about looking handouts, and therefore not that investors are doing us any favours.
We believe and know that they are here to make a profit, and for our part, we seek jobs and development of our country in return.
It's a partnership of mutual interest and respect."
&
"Jamaica might eventually come to thank Mr Samuda for that moment of enlightened self-interest when he refused to sell Jamaica out for 30 pieces of Spanish silver.
Like the rest of the country, we're proud of you, Karl Samuda."
Monday, January 19, 2009
JG - Jamaica, Cuba and the Caribbean's voice
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica, Cuba and the Caribbean's voice
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Robert Buddan -POLITICS OF OUR TIME
Bruce Golding's visit to Cuba last week signifies two things. The realities of the world order have made redundant the old idea that 'the west' or the United States can be the centre of our foreign policy as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) thought it should be in the 1960s and 1980s. The People's National Party (PNP) had never believed it and courted 'the South', including Cuba, in the 1970s, the 1990s and beyond. Right up to the September elections, supporters of the JLP were still naively of the old view. But the crises of oil, trade and food have kept the JLP doing business with Venezuela, Cuba and China and remaining steadfast in CARICOM, even calling on Guyana to help with rice production.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The other signal is this: Jamaica and Cuba can entertain relations on a bilateral level to meet specific needs, such as in agriculture, water, housing, tourism and health. But at the same time, they can engage in a more global vision of change in the world order."
"Golding has promised President Raul Castro that he will use Jamaica's influence to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
This is not likely to help much. Golding has little, if any, influence over Bush.
What is more, with four Jamaican Members of Parliament on the government's side holding American citizenship and another having Venezuelan citizenship, the Jamaican government could be seriously compromised considering the aggressive actions being taken against American citizens who violate the Cuban embargo and whose allegiance is sworn to the United States."
&
"US policy towards Cuba was not an irrelevant hangover of the Cold War but a clash of two world orders.
There is the current world order that the United States supports and a different vision of a world order that Cuba supports, one costly to the United States."
Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica, Cuba and the Caribbean's voice
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Robert Buddan -POLITICS OF OUR TIME
Bruce Golding's visit to Cuba last week signifies two things. The realities of the world order have made redundant the old idea that 'the west' or the United States can be the centre of our foreign policy as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) thought it should be in the 1960s and 1980s. The People's National Party (PNP) had never believed it and courted 'the South', including Cuba, in the 1970s, the 1990s and beyond. Right up to the September elections, supporters of the JLP were still naively of the old view. But the crises of oil, trade and food have kept the JLP doing business with Venezuela, Cuba and China and remaining steadfast in CARICOM, even calling on Guyana to help with rice production.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The other signal is this: Jamaica and Cuba can entertain relations on a bilateral level to meet specific needs, such as in agriculture, water, housing, tourism and health. But at the same time, they can engage in a more global vision of change in the world order."
"Golding has promised President Raul Castro that he will use Jamaica's influence to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
This is not likely to help much. Golding has little, if any, influence over Bush.
What is more, with four Jamaican Members of Parliament on the government's side holding American citizenship and another having Venezuelan citizenship, the Jamaican government could be seriously compromised considering the aggressive actions being taken against American citizens who violate the Cuban embargo and whose allegiance is sworn to the United States."
&
"US policy towards Cuba was not an irrelevant hangover of the Cold War but a clash of two world orders.
There is the current world order that the United States supports and a different vision of a world order that Cuba supports, one costly to the United States."
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