Headlines, Latin America & the Caribbean, North America

Jamaicans Fear Mayhem Over Coke Extradition

Kathy Barrett

KINGSTON, May 19 2010 (IPS) - Classrooms emptied and business owners pulled down their shutters this week as the word spread that the Jamaican government had finally signed an extradition request from the United States for alleged gang leader Christopher “Dudus” Coke.

Men with high-powered weapons are keeping watch in Coke’s neighbourhood of Tivoli Gardens. Coke, 41, is believed to be the leader of the Shower Posse, one of the most notorious criminal organisations in the western hemisphere.

Last year, a grand jury in the United States indicted him on conspiracy to distribute drugs and traffic weapons. The U.S. sought his extradition for trial, but Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding refused to comply, citing illegally obtained wiretap evidence and other irregularities.

While wanted by the authorities, Coke is revered in Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston – a constituency represented in Parliament by the prime minister.

Coke, popularly known as Dudus or “the president”, has been at the centre of a nine-month diplomatic row between Jamaica and the United States. The controversy surrounding his extradition almost led to the fall of the prime minister.

Things came to a head in March when Dr. Peter Phillips, a former national security minister and member of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), revealed that the U.S.-based law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips had been hired to lobby the U.S .government on the extradition issue.

Golding categorically denied that there was any such contract. But months later, the prime minister, in a statement to Parliament, revealed that in his capacity as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), he gave authorisation for the firm to be hired.

“I sanctioned the initiative, knowing that such interventions have, in the past, proven to be of considerable value in dealing with issues involving governments of both countries,” he said. “I made it clear, however, that this was an initiative to be undertaken by the party, not by or on behalf of the government.”

In a heated exchange, members of the opposition accused the prime minister of lying to the public.

A local political analyst, Kevin O’Brian Chang, predicted that Golding’s credibility would take a nosedive following his revelation, as serious questions were raised about transparency in the JLP administration.

“Well no doubt. The confidence that the people may have had in Golding will be severely shaken. We expect our prime minister to speak with one voice, not with the voice of a prime minister and the voice of a leader of the JLP,” said Chang.

Calls are now mounting for Golding to step down. From powerful private sector groups to the average Jamaican, concerns are spreading about the implications for the country, and possible violence surrounding Coke’s capture.

This is the power of the “don”. Rulers of the criminal underworld, they run major networks not only in Jamaica but in North America and Britain. They hold tremendous power in communities where they are role models, community leaders, the father figure as well as judge and jury, and hold unbelievable power over in these areas where their word is final.

In the case of Coke, many fear that if he is extradited, there could be mayhem across his stronghold of Tivoli Gardens and this could spread across the country.

With pressure mounting on Golding, he huddled in meetings with members of his Cabinet where he reportedly handed in his resignation but this was rejected. In an address to the nation on Monday night, Golding asked for forgiveness and announced that his government had finally agreed to extradite Coke.

“I regret the entire affair and it has been deeply painful for me, members of my family and you who have been hurt and disappointed, in hindsight, the party should never have been involved in the way that it did, and I should never have allowed it but I must express responsibility for it and express my remorse to the nation,” Golding said

Less than 24 hours after the announcement, word came that the attorney general had signed the extradition order giving “authority to proceed”, and this was quickly followed by the signing of the extradition warrant for the police to arrest Coke on sight.

As a result, the atmosphere in Coke’s domain has been extremely tense, with the anticipation of civil unrest.

“Leave Dudus alone – he is next to God. Because of him, we have food and send we children to school,” said a woman from the area who asked not to be named.

The police – who already have their hands full with over 600 murders committed since the start of the year – are on high alert and have been maintaining a constant presence in downtown Kingston. There have been some outbreaks of violence, with reports of death threats against members of the local human rights lobby group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), an attempted attack on the office of a JLP Member of Parliament, and the firebombing of a car belonging to a PNP youth activist.

National Security Minister Dwight Nelson has sought to assure the country that the security forces have adequate resources to deal with criminals who are trying to destabilise the country.

While the situation is expected to remain tense until Coke’s pending extradition takes place, the U.S. State Department has greeted as “an important first step” the prime minister’s decision to get the extradition process underway.

“The evidence against Mr. Coke was gathered after a lengthy and credible series of investigations and so this is an important first step in resolving this protracted dispute,” said State Department spokesman Noel Clay.