THE Opposition People's National Party (PNP) says that a news report today demonstrates that the Government has still not provided a "full and truthful" account of the engagement of United States law firm Manatt Phelps and Phillips to lobby the US against the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
The PNP responded via a statement this morning to today's Gleaner newspaper, which reported - based on email correspondence obtained under the Access to Information Act - that Manatt was working for the Government. This information would contradict the position of the Jamaica Labour Party that it was the party and not the government, who hired the American lawyers.
"This publication confirm our long held view that the Government has still not provided a full and truthful account of the issues related to either Manatt Phelps and Phillips relationship or the elements of the extradition request for Christopher Coke and the sequence of events which culminated in the military operation in Tivoli Gardens and Cokes subsequent capture and extradition," said the PNP.
Once again the PNP called for a commission of enquiry to examine the circumstances that led to the prolonged extradition requests and the eventual deaths of 73 people in West Kingston during civil unrest before the eventual extradition of Jamaica Labour Party-aligned don, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to face gun and drug trafficking charges in the United States.
"Further, with respect to the e-mails reported on in the Gleaner's publication, it is more evident that the moral authority of the justice minister and attorney general, the solicitor general and the prime minister has been compromised," said the PNP.
The PNP, which first raised the Manatt issue in parliament, said that it will be considering next week what further action to take.