Cabinet to discuss Manatt report next Monday

KINGSTON — Cabinet is slated to discuss the report of the Manatt Commission of Enquiry at its weekly meeting at Jamaica House, next Monday June 13, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has informed.

Speaking today at the post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House, Minister Vaz said the report will, thereafter, be tabled in Parliament the following day June 14, “at which point it will become a public document."

The Enquiry was held over a three-month period, between January and April, to examine the events pertaining to the extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke to the United States in 2010.

Attorney-at-law and Queen’s Counsel, Emil George, chaired the three-man Commission, which included fellow jurist, Donald Scharschmidt, and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Anthony Irons. 

The Enquiry was initially scheduled to end on February 28, but was twice extended by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at the request of the Commissioners, who were directed to submit their final report by May 16. They, however, requested a further extension, and were given until June 6 to present the report to the Governor-General.

Mr. Vaz told journalists that the report was delivered to the Governor-General at King’s House on June 6.

“I can confirm that the June 6 deadline was met and it is in the possession of the Governor-General, and by now, I am sure that it would be in the process of being prepared for tabling at Cabinet next week Monday June 13,” he said.

The Commission of Enquiry, which was broadcast live on television and streamed on the internet, saw testimonies from a number of prominent figures, including: Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding; Attorney General and Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne; National Security Minister, Senator the Hon. Dwight Nelson; Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda; Mr. Vaz; former Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,  Dr. Ronald Robinson; former Commissioner of  Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin;  former Chief of Defence Staff, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Major General Stewart Saunders; Solicitor General, Douglas Leys; and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Evadne Coye.

By DOUGLAS McINTOSH, JIS Reporter