As suspected and borne out now by the recent unravelling of events, party politics reigns supreme and governance suffers. The embarrassing Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair has only served to highlight a concern that has always haunted me regarding politics in Jamaica - there is often a conflict of interest whenever politicians govern.
The extradition matter surrounding Christopher 'Dudus' Coke is slowly stripping away the façade that has existed regarding the (often-denied) unhealthy, interfering relationship that 'politics' exerts on governance. Although the extradition matter was the catalyst for the revelation of this awkward affair, the bigger picture - regarding the ability of politicians to operate free of politics once elected to govern - is of infinitely greater significance. This sordid matter has transcended Dudus; it is now about the honesty, integrity, trustworthiness and even the patriotism of our elected officials.
Denial
When the Opposition's Dr Peter Phillips exposed the hiring of the United States firm (through Jamaican attorney-at-law Harold Brady) to lobby on 'our' behalf in matters of extradition, the Government (through the prime minister) soundly denied any knowledge of it. We were made to believe that Mr Brady acted on his own in hiring the expensive US firm. It was even intimated that he misrepresented himself as acting on behalf of the Government of Jamaica and that a series of coincidences led to representatives of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips sitting in on high-level meetings between our government representative and the United States of America.
Trickles of admissions regarding knowledge of the matter eked out under steady pressure from the Opposition and the media but denials of any direct involvement were maintained. By then, all well-thinking citizens knew that something foul was afoot. Our collective intelligence was being insulted and we felt betrayed and sacrificed on the altar of party politics. It appeared obvious that there was a concerted effort to retain 'power' at any and all costs.
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The first real sign of a cover-up came during a radio interview exchange during which a beleaguered Harold Brady let it be known that there were things that Information Minister Daryl Vaz knew that he (Brady) also knew. Eventually, we were informed that persons in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) took it upon themselves to hire Mr Brady who, in turn, hired the US law firm.
High-level wrangling
Well, nobody believed that JLP subordinates were capable of such high-level, international wrangling. Who authorised them to do that? Who funded it? At last, the prime minister admitted that it was he who sanctioned the hiring of the law firm, but we are told that he did so in his capacity as leader of the JLP and not as leader of the country.
And, great pains were taken to tell us that funding for this expensive venture came from private donations to the JLP and definitely not from Mr Coke himself. I hope that the JLP realises that the private sector will be unhappy with the way that their donations are being used. I also hope that the JLP realises that the country is very disappointed in all that has happened and sees this as a conflict of interest.
This matter raises questions about our ability to trust our elected officials to act on our behalf and not selfishly on the behalf of their own political career. I daresay that there is yet a deeper layer to this affair. We've been beguiled for months; now we will never have any idea what to believe.
Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.
