Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has charged that the extradition treaty between Jamaica and the United States is tilted heavily in favour of the superpower, and has effectively compromised the island’s sovereignty.
On Friday, Golding told the commission of enquiry looking into the circumstances surrounding the extradition of alleged drug kingpin Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, that the imbalance must be hammered out with urgency.
The Jamaica Gleaner reported that Golding said, “There needs to be some rebalancing of the extradition arrangements between Jamaica and the United States. There is inequity for Jamaica… because Jamaicans are not treated in the same was as United States citizens are treated in that country.”
The prime minister noted that this inequity was raised in Washington in 1995 by none other than then minister of national security and justice, attorney K.D, Knight, who is now representing the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) at the enquiry hearings.
He said Knight’s attempt to renegotiate the extradition arrangements was then met with stubborn resistance from the US.
The prime minister said his administration is determined to pursue discussions with the US, but is awaiting the completion of the commission of enquiry.
