Jamaicans have been warned of the dangers of revealing the contents of the “secret” memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the United States and the United Kingdom to fight transnational crimes.
The Jamaica Observer reported that several attorneys, including outspoken commentator, Dr Paul Ashley, and constitutional lawyers, Dr Lloyd Barnett and Bert Samuels, urged caution, with Ashley saying disclosure could damage Jamaica’s foreign relations with international partners.
“In the Constitution, if you examine it closely, there is a provision dealing with national security,” said Ashley. “No right absolute. It is always subjected to national security, defence, and matters of good order and public health.”
“Therefore, the disclosure has and will have adverse repercussions for Jamaica’s future relations in matters of national security with our international partners,” Ashley told the Observer.
He said the confidentially of the agreement was fundamental to national security relations in light of the drastic security changes around the world after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.
