Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KINGSTON676
2009-09-04 19:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

JAMAICA: KEY OPPOSITION FIGURE DESCRIBES PRIME

Tags:  PREL CJAN CVIS PGOV PINR ASEC SNAR SOCI KCOR 
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #0676/01 2471911
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041911Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8046
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0114
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0618
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 2427
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000676 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JMACK-WILSON) (BALVARADO) (VDEPIRRO)
(WSMITH)
L/LEI (CHOLLAND) (AKLUESNER)
INR/IAA (GBOHIGAN)
INR/RES (RWARNER)
JUSTICE FOR OIA (PPETTY)
TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW
PASS TO CENTRAL AMERICAN CARIBBEAN BASIN COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PREL CJAN CVIS PGOV PINR ASEC SNAR SOCI KCOR
KCRM, JM, XL, BR
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: KEY OPPOSITION FIGURE DESCRIBES PRIME
MINISTER AS "BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE" ON COKE
EXTRADITION, OPTIMISTIC ON ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

REF: A. A. STATE 8507

B. B. KINGSTON 655

C. C. KINGSTON 666

D. D. KINGSTON 631

E. E. KINGSTON 613

F. F. KINGSTON 634

Classified By: CDA ISIAH L. PARNELL, Reasons 1.5 (B) AND (D)

Summary:

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000676

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JMACK-WILSON) (BALVARADO) (VDEPIRRO)
(WSMITH)
L/LEI (CHOLLAND) (AKLUESNER)
INR/IAA (GBOHIGAN)
INR/RES (RWARNER)
JUSTICE FOR OIA (PPETTY)
TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW
PASS TO CENTRAL AMERICAN CARIBBEAN BASIN COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PREL CJAN CVIS PGOV PINR ASEC SNAR SOCI KCOR
KCRM, JM, XL, BR
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: KEY OPPOSITION FIGURE DESCRIBES PRIME
MINISTER AS "BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE" ON COKE
EXTRADITION, OPTIMISTIC ON ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

REF: A. A. STATE 8507

B. B. KINGSTON 655

C. C. KINGSTON 666

D. D. KINGSTON 631

E. E. KINGSTON 613

F. F. KINGSTON 634

Classified By: CDA ISIAH L. PARNELL, Reasons 1.5 (B) AND (D)

Summary:


1. (C) Peter Bunting, Member of Parliament and the opposition
People's National Party (PNP) Spokesperson on National
Security, praised the USG's August 30 request that
Christopher "Dudus" Coke be extradited to stand trial on
federal drug charges. Describing Prime Minister (PM)
Golding's position as "between a rock and a hard place,"
Bunting affirmed the PNP's "unequivocal" support for Coke's
extradition. Nevertheless, Bunting was critical of Golding's
handling of the affair and intimated that some within the
Government of Jamaica (GOJ) might prefer that Coke be
assassinated rather than extradited to stand trial.

End Summary.

Organized Crime "Corrosive" To Jamaican Democracy
--------------


2. (C) In a September 2 introductory meeting with Embassy
Kingston's new CDA, accompanied by EmbOff, Bunting described
the nexus between organized crime and political power, as
evidenced in the Coke extradition request, as the most
pressing political problem facing Jamaica. According to
Bunting, the prevalence and pervasiveness of organized crime
in Jamaica
threatens democracy and corrupts law enforcement. Describing
organized crime's influence on Jamaican society as

"corrosive," Bunting related how the gangland-style murders
of five of his campaign workers prior to the 2007 general
election depressed voter turnout in his constituency and
nearly cost him his seat in Parliament. Although Bunting
acknowledged that the PNP had
its own ties to organized crime figures, he described the
relationship between Coke and the governing Jamaica Labour
Party (JLP) as much closer and more insidious.

"Dudus" Controversy Grips Jamaica
--------------


3. (C) Coke, the notorious "don" and leader of the "Shower
Posse" that controls the violent West Kingston garrison
community of Tivoli Gardens, has been indicted in the U.S.
Southern District in New York on charges of conspiracy to
traffic cocaine, marijuana and firearms (Reftel A). Although
the diplomatic note requesting Coke's extradition was
submitted to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) on August 26,
the GOJ has yet to issue a formal response despite CDA's
request in a meeting with Foreign Minister Kenneth Baugh
(Reftel B). In fact, in a separate meeting between EmbOff and
the JLP Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Councillor Desmond
Anthony McKenzie warned of "severe repercussions" and
"collateral damage" if the request was not rescinded (Reftel
C). While the extradition request has been the subject of
considerable media coverage and public debate, the GOJ has
yet to issue a formal response to the request and it remains
"under review" by Solicitor General Douglas Leys.

Symbiotic Relationships Between PNP, JLP, and Garrisons
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) Historically the PNP and the JLP have maintained
quid pro quo relationships with the organized crime
syndicates that control inner-city garrisons in Kingston,


Spanish Town, and Montego Bay. In return for ceding de facto
political control of the garrisons, political parties count
on the "dons" turning out the vote on election day while
simultaneously using threats and violence to intimidate and
terrorize opposition supporters. With no effective civil
authority within the garrisons, "dons" cement their rule by
distributing cash, clothing, and school supplies to poor
garrison residents ) financed by drug profits ) while
maintaining some degree of order in the lawless communities.


5. (C) As a result, many Jamaicans have rallied to Coke's
defense, describing him as a community leader and Samaritan
while deriding Golding and the GOJ for jeopardizing Jamaica's
sovereignty by acceding to U.S. pressure. Nevertheless,
Bunting claimed that there is a silent majority in Jamaica
that would like to see Coke and his ilk extradited and
imprisoned, but are afraid to say so publicly.
Dead Men Tell No Tales
--------------


6. (C) Bunting was critical of Golding's handling of the Coke
affair, noting that the GOJ should have had Coke arrested and
turned over to U.S. authorities as soon as they learned of
the extradition request so as to minimize the political
fallout. By equivocating, the GOJ appears indecisive and has
allowed Coke the opportunity to leave the tonier
neighborhoods of north Kingston where he owns at least one
home ) and where he would be more easily taken into custody
) and instead to sequester himself in the Tivoli Gardens
garrison community where the GOJ has no effective law
enforcement presence. Although Bunting believes that the
Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) could extricate Coke from
Tivoli Gardens with U.S. law enforcement assistance and
technological expertise, doing so might entail civilian
casualties and result in widespread civil unrest.


7. (C) Bunting described the Coke affair as the greatest
political challenge of the JLP's two years in power, while
Golding's inaction indicated a lack of leadership and a
"failure of political will." Although apparently not close to
Coke personally, Golding is the Minister of Parliament (MP)
representing the West Kingston constituency in which Tivoli
Gardens is located. A Coke arrest and extradition would
certainly have electoral repercussions within the
constituency ) if the West Kingston and other garrison
communities allied with the JLP were to stay away from the
polls on election day or even throw their support to the PNP,
the JLP's prospects for the next general election, currently
scheduled for 2012, might dim considerably. (NOTE: Bunting
noted that the alliances between political parties and
garrison crime syndicates are purely utilitarian, not
ideological or based on political convictions. END NOTE)


8. (C) More immediately, Golding's position as the leader of
the JLP might be threatened by a Coke extradition as well.
Bunting told EmbOff that, if arrested, Coke has threatened to
"squeal" on those within the JLP and the GOJ with ties to
organized crime. If true, Golding is certainly under
considerable pressure from within the JLP to find some
pretense on which to refuse the U.S.'s extradition request.


9. (C) In fact, Bunting speculated openly that the seemingly
intractable political problem might be solved for everyone
through Coke's untimely death. Coke surely suspects as much
) his own father and predecessor as leader of the "Shower
Posse," "Jim Brown", died under mysterious circumstances
while in police custody in Kingston in 1992.

Bauxite, Economic Opportunities, Electoral Prospects
-------------- --------------


10. (SBU) Despite the recent news that the St. Ann Bauxite
Partners plant might soon resume full production after having


shut down for several months due to weak market demand,
Bunting was skeptical as to whether Jamaica's bauxite
industry would ever fully recover from the current economic
downturn. Instead, Bunting believes that Jamaica's economic
future lies in creative- and knowledge-based industries such
as tourism, health care, and entertainment. Notwithstanding
Jamaica's recent economic and social travails, Bunting
described himself as an optimist in regard to Jamaica's
economic prospects, noting that Jamaica has sound
infrastructure and enjoys infant mortality rates and life
spans comparable to those of the developed world.


11. (C) Although critical of the JLP's handling of the
current economic crisis and the caliber of some GOJ ministers
) he referred openly to Finance Minister Audley Shaw as
"incompetent" ) Bunting nevertheless was doubtful that the
PNP could regain power were Golding to call a snap election
in the next several months. While still popular with the
business community, Bunting believes that the JLP is steadily
losing credibility with the general public and that it would
be preferable for the PNP to wait until the next general
election, which must be held before September 2012.

Bunting's Conclusion and Analysis
--------------


12. (C) Jamaica's political landscape has clearly been roiled
by the Coke extradition request, and the JLP-led government
appears unable or unwilling to address the issue directly.
Confronted by mounting labor unrest (Reftel D),a crushing
debt burden (Reftel E),and an economy in the doldrums
(Reftel F),Golding could have done without an extradition
crisis and he has few attractive options from which to
choose. To refuse the extradition request and allow Coke to
remain free would make a laughingstock of the JLP's
anti-crime platform, jeopardize U.S. development and law
enforcement assistance programs, and allow Golding's
opponents to portray him as cowardly and unwilling to stand
up to the criminal elements that support the JLP.


13. (C) On the other hand, if Golding were to acquiesce to
the extradition request and attempt to take Coke into
custody, one of two outcomes might result. A JCF assault of
Tivoli Gardens in which Coke were taken into custody might
result in widespread destruction, civilian casualties, and
civil unrest that could spread throughout Kingston or even
across the island, while Coke's subsequent trial could
implicate and embarrass a number of high-ranking JLP
officials. Alternately, a JCF operation that failed to
capture Coke would allow the JLP's rivals to portray
Golding's government as incompetent and ineffective. Either
outcome would raise questions within the electorate as to the
JLP's competence and judgment.


14. (C) Nevertheless, in the face of U.S. insistence that the
GOJ live up to its treaty obligations, the Coke affair offers
Golding an opportunity to demonstrate resolute leadership by
standing up to the criminal syndicates that have for decades
dominated Jamaican politics, compromised political parties,
corrupted law enforcement, and fomented the island's
spiraling murder and crime rates. How Golding will respond to
that opportunity remains unclear.
PARNELL