Phillips criticises JLP ‘silence and arrogance’ on affair
JAMAICA:– MEMBER of Parliament, and former national security minister Peter Phillips said what he terms the posture of ‘silence and arrogance’ adopted by the Golding administration in the Manatt Phelps and Phillips affair as untenable and cannot be sustained.
Phillips who was speaking at the Observer’s weekly Monday Exchange said the imbroglio, involving the United States law firm, which was contracted by the government to lobby their government to delay, and or prevent the extradition of indicted alleged drugs and arms dealer Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, has engulfed the entire government.
“I don’t think their position is tenable,” Phillips said, when asked what a Commission of Inquiry would unravel if the government maintain their dismissive posture.
He said while there is no official position from the Jamaica Labour Party about how its response to the Jamaican people, earlier pronouncements in the media suggest that JLP has decided it will not say anything on the matter.
“It is neither tenable nor an acceptable position, so we will have to see how if it evolves…,” he reiterated.
Prior to the release of e-mails released on Monday, which has contradicted previous statements made by the Golding, Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne, and Solicitor General Douglas Leys, the government has stoutly refused to discuss the matter.
Information minister Daryl Vaz has refused to discuss the matter when questioned by journalists at post-Cabinet press briefings. Civil society groups, including the human rights organisations and other powerful business groups have called for full disclosure in the matter.
However the prime minister has said it is time for the country to move on, and focus on other areas of development, a similar posture adopted by members of the administration.
Phillips said proper procedures must be followed in seeking the truth.
“If you put a question in the parliament, just based on what has come, on the basis of the Standing Order they are supposed to answer. And the truth is if you don’t allow the parliament to operate properly then you are asking a position to be taken outside of parliament which I don’t think is good for the country…” he said.
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