(Jamaica Observer) A day after the United States requested the extradition of accused drug lord Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke in 2009, National Security Minister Dwight Nelson is said to have expressed deep fears to then police commissioner Hardley Lewin that the government could collapse if the request was granted.
The disclosure was made on Friday by Lewin while testifying before the commission of enquiry looking into the government’s handling of the extradition request, which led to a nine-month stand-off between Jamaica and the US and strained relations between both countries.
During the impasse, which drew international attention, the United States-based law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips was hired to lobby Washington for a favourable outcome on the issue, a matter that later led to calls for Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s resignation.
On Friday, Lewin told the nationally-televised commission of enquiry that on the morning of August 26, 2009 — the day after the extradition request was sent — he spoke with Nelson in order to find out what was holding up the signing of the authority to proceed with extradition proceedings against Coke.
“He informed me that it was a matter for the justice minister,” Lewin said Nelson told him.
“CP,” Lewin said Nelson told him, “you don’t understand. This matter could cause the government to collapse.”
“Oh,” Lewin said he responded to the minister and from that day on he was determined not to speak further with anyone in government about the Coke extradition request.
