Lightbourne: U.S. Didn’t Want to Listen

By: - March 8th, 2011

Jamaican Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne took the stand in the high-profile Commission of Enquiry yesterday, and charged that the Christopher Coke affair could have been resolved far earlier if not for the approach of the United States. “I think that what happened in this case is that the United States is not used to being questioned, so their attitude was, ‘This was done in the past so why are you asking questions?” she said. “[They] were not taking into account that I had a duty to examine what was before me before I sign.” She would not describe America’s behavior as “oppressive,” however, when asked by Hugh Small, QC. “I will not say that. I will say that their behavior was a refusal to take account [that] our constitution and our law, which were pointed out to them, had been breached. If you wish to take that as oppressive then it’s up to you.”

Jamaica

CARICOM Mourns Sir Allan Fitzgerald Louisy, Former St. Lucian Prime Minister

By the Caribbean Journal Staff The condolences have poured in from across the region for the loss of Sir Allan Fitzgerald Louisy, who served as Prime Minister of St. Lucia from 1979-1981, along with a five-year stint as the leader of the opposition. Louisy was also a former Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. […]

Jamaica

Jamaicans Still Buying into Financial Schemes

Jamaica’s FSC Senior Management Team Jamaica has been home to the high-profile OLINT issue, what some have dubbed the Caribbean’s version of the Bernard Madoff controversy. But according to the Jamaican Financial Services Commission, there are 64 unregulated investment schemes on the books, as Jamaicans apparently continue to put their money in the hands of […]

Jamaica

U.S. Prosecutors: No Bond for Buju

Buju Banton a.k.a. Mark Myrie The U.S. Government filed its response to Buju Banton’s motion for bond following his conviction last week in his high-profile narcotics trial. Assistant United States Attorney James Preston, Jr. argued that Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was not entitled to the order Banton sought releasing him from custodial […]

Ramnarine Condemns Attack on West Indies Cricket Team

 After an attack on the West Indies cricket team in Bangladesh, the West Indian Players Association came out with a strong condemnation. WIPA President and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine said it was “regrettable what transpired in Bangladesh,” according to a statement released by the WIPA. No players were injured in the attack, which involved fans pelting […]

Fire destroys Haitian Village in the Bahamas

 The question of increased Haitian immigration is nothing new to the Bahamas — but new problems are beginning to emerge in the so-called “Haitian villages” set up by immigrants. A fire broke out in a shantytown off Fire Trail Road in New Providence, leaving hundreds homeless. Supreintendent Jeffrey Delevaux, director of fire services, said the […]

Report: Extradition Crisis Damaged Anti-Drug Efforts

 After an attack on the West Indies cricket team in Bangladesh, the West Indian Players Association came out with a strong condemnation. WIPA President and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine said it was “regrettable what transpired in Bangladesh,” according to a statement released by the WIPA. No players were injured in the attack, which involved fans pelting […]

Golding, in Letter, Holds to Claim That Manatt Did Not Work for Government

 Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a letter to the Commission of Enquiry investigating the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips extradition scandal, maintained that the Government did not hire the Manatt firm to lobby the White House on behalf of Christopher Coke. The Jamaica Labour Party has offered a waiver for a representative of the firm […]