Tag: Black Gangsters

Former Prime Minister Of Jamaica Claims He Never Told US Authorities That Women Were Raped During The Tivoli Raids

brucegoldingFormer Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Thursday denied that he told US Charge d’affaires Isaiah Parnell that non-combatants were being “summarily” killed and women raped during the security forces’ operation to apprehend former don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

Golding made the denial while being questioned by Lord Anthony Gifford, QC, during the Tivoli Gardens enquiry.

Gifford had questioned Golding about the content of an e-mail sent in May 2010 by Isaiah Parnell, the US charge d’affaires in Jamaica, to a colleague after meeting with Golding a day after the May 24 operation to apprehend Coke started.

Parnell had told his colleague that Golding had told him that women were being raped and non-combatants were being “summarily shot”, but that “our military assets could not confirm this”.

Asked if what Parnell said to his colleague, that Golding could not trust the reporting from the Jamaica Defence Force, and sent Bishop Herro Blair, then public defender and then head of the Red Cross Dr Jaslin Stewart into Tivoli was indeed his position, Golding said he sent the men into Tivoli Gardens because of conflicting reports, and he was in search of truth.

Jamaica Observer 

No Cameras Allowed In Today’s Tivoli Enquiry Proceedings As Lawyers Present Top Secret Evidence

Tivoli-EnquiryAttorneys representing the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) are to make submissions today as the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry resumes.

However, the hearing will not be open to the public.

The lawyers for the JDF are seeking to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information.

They say revealing the information may be harmful and against public interest and public safety.

Following the submissions, the Commissioners will rule if the information is to be revealed.

Meanwhile, the public will be invited to take part in the enquiry on Monday.

At that time, former Prime Minister Bruce Golding and former Commissioner of Police Owen Ellingston are to go back on the witness stand where they will be cross-examined by attorney-at-law Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, who is representing Reverend Al Miller.

Miller was arrested and charged after he was found in the company of then fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

The enquiry is looking at the police-military operation in West Kingston in May 2010 which left more than 70 people dead.

The operation was aimed at capturing Coke.

Jamaica Observer

Jamaica’s Former Prime Minister To Retake The Stand In The Tivoli Enquiry Trial Surrounding The Dudus Coke Manhunt

brucegolding2
Jamaica’s former Prime Minister, Bruce Golding to retake stand in Tivolil Enquiry for cross examination.

The Tivoli Commission of Enquiry is to be opened to the public on Monday.

The enquiry was scheduled to continue on Tuesday, after a break in February, but was put off until tomorrow due to the illness of Chairman Sir David Simmons and the visit of US President Barack Obama to Jamaica on Thursday.

The next sitting is on Friday, but the session will not be opened to the public, as attorneys are to make submissions on documents that requests are being made to keep out of the public, Commission Attorney Garth McBean, QC, told the Jamaica Observer.

When the commission reopens to the public, former Prime Minister Bruce Golding is to be recalled for questioning from Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, who is representing Rev Al Miller.

Miller was arrested and charged after Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who was then on the run, was held in his presence in June of 2010. Miller had said that he was taking Coke to the US Embassy in Kingston on instruction from the authorities.

After Golding’s testimony, former Police Commissioner Owen Ellington will continue at the witness table.

The enquiry is looking into the police/military operation in the West Kingston area in May 2010 to apprehend then Tivoli Gardens strongman Coke.

More than 70 people, including a Jamaica Defence Force soldier, died as a result of the operation.

Jamaica Observer