Dear Editor,
Before the dust settles, and for future reference, there is one inconvenient question in the entire Dudus and Manatt affair that no one seems to want to ask, let alone answer.
The question: under Jamaica’s wiretap law, exactly who is the person authorised to transmit wiretap tapes to a foreign government?
The PM? The AG? The SG? The Commissioner of Police? The Minister of National Security? Any Tom, Dick or Harry?
Section 16 of the Interception of Communications Act would seem to indicate strongly that the person is the Minister of National Security. Common sense would suggest that where such sensitive information is to be transferred from one government to another, a designated government official would be responsible in law to do so.
Is that so in Jamaica’s case? After nine months and columns of pontification on the issue, does anyone dare to provide a straight answer to this straight question ? Does anyone else dare to even ask the question?
Errol WA Townshend
Canada
Be the first to comment