Let the judiciary decide

The Editor
, Sir:

In your Saturday edition of March 6, letter writer Owen S. Crosbie wrote an extensive essay as to why Christopher 'Dudus' Coke should not be extradited because the evidence against Coke was (allegedly) obtained by illegal means.

But there is one very essential thing that Mr Crosbie failed to take note of in his letter: If, as he says, Mr Coke is being accused based on illegally obtained evidence - and I'm not disputing that it isn't - then it is the Jamaican judiciary that has the privilege to make that declaration, not the executive branch of the government, i.e., Prime Minister Golding. It is the prerogative of Mr Coke, not Mr Golding, to make the case before the courts that he should not be extradited.

If Mr Golding can thwart a legal proceeding to which Jamaica has agreed by way of treaty, then, we really do not have an independent judiciary after all, do we now? And if we do not have an independent judiciary that the Executive will abide by, then, as a nation, we are in serious trouble. Think Zimbabwe, Iran, Burma, and other places where the average Jamaican would never want to live.

I am, etc.,

PETER HOPKINS

yamdigger@hotmail.com

Toronto, Canada