PRIME Minister Bruce Golding is asking the Dudus/Manatt commission of enquiry to consider his ministerial and international obligations which may prevent him from giving evidence at the enquiry.
The prime minister, through his attorney at the commission, Hugh Small, asked for the understanding of the commission that his “obligation to attend to the business of the people of Jamaica and the machinery of Government” cannot be deferred.
Small said his client would only be available until the end of next week “if the commission is able to complete hearing of the evidence of the other witnesses”.
But when the commission chairman Emil George suggested that the prime minister give evidence immediately after former Jamaica Labour Party General Secretary Karl Samuda and Deputy Solicitor General Lackston Robinson complete theirs, Small strongly objected to the suggestion.
Small said that the prime minister cannot give evidence before Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne. Furthermore, Small said that Golding was set to be the last witness to give evidence.
