(Jamaica Observer) Op-position member of parliament (MP) Daryl Vaz on Wednesday blasted Tivoli Enquiry Chairman Sir David Simmons for reading unsubstantiated information from a police diary alleging that former drug lord Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke had stayed at his house after eluding a police dragnet in Tivoli Gardens in May of 2010.
Vaz, in a statement to the press, described Simmons’ action as “thoughtless, insensitive, careless, reckless and downright irresponsible considering the politically charged atmosphere of the enquiry”.
“I am appalled to hear that the Commission-er of the West Kingston Enquiry, Chairman Sir David Simmons, unsubstantiated reported sightings of Mr Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke at my private residence during the May 2010 security operations,” read a section of the MP’s statement.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake, who was giving evidence at the enquiry when the statement was read, said the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) found no evidence to confirm the report that Coke was seen at the residence of Vaz, who was the information minister in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government at the time.
The reported sighting was on May 25, 2010, a day after the security forces launched their operation to apprehend Coke on an extradition warrant and restore law and order in Tivoli Gardens. Aided by heavily armed men, Coke is believed to have fled Tivoli Gardens through storm water drains.
The police was forced to launch the operation after gunmen barricaded the Tivoli Gardens community and attacked lawmen, when it was announced by then Prime Minister Bruce Golding that authority would be given to commence extradition proceedings against Coke, who was a supporter of the JLP.
On Wednesday, Vaz questioned “the motive behind the commissioner choosing to introduce this unsubstantiated information from unknown sources out of thousands of intelligence reports and statements made to the police”.
