'No criminal links'

...  Former government minister downplays WikiLeaks cables and denies any involvement with criminals

Phillip Paulwell, who United States Embassy officials once described as a "politician with a past", and one they did not want to see in the Portia Simpson Miller 2006 Cabinet, has again denied any links to criminals and criminality.

Paulwell has also downplayed the significance of the cables arguing that while they might have reflected sentiments at the time they were written, he believes the views no longer hold.

He noted that the diplomatic cables, which question his character, are dated 2006 and 2007.

"I suspect that the viewpoint of the US would have changed substantially by now based on my own relationship with them," Paulwell said as he reacted to the cables now available on the WikiLeaks website (http://www.wikileaks.fi/origin/98_0.html).

According to Paulwell: "Even recently, I had occasion to meet with senior people at the US Embassy to discuss issues relating to my shadow Cabinet portfolio, and I believe the meeting was very cordial and resulted in good exchanges."

Worse off for politics

The three-term People's National Party member of parliament said he has not enriched himself through politics, which, he claimed, has left him worse off financially.

Paulwell, a lawyer, recently told The Sunday Gleaner: "I am a broke man today struggling to get my business going so that I can survive through my professional capabilities."

He was responding to allegations contained in US Embassy diplomatic cables which suggest that he might be linked to unsavory characters.

"The police will tell you that I have worked very closely with them to bring criminals in my constituency to justice," said Paulwell.

"The people of Rockfort and the other communities in my (East Kingston and Port Royal) constituency know that I am an informer when it comes to wrongdoers," Paulwell added.