JCC chimes in on 'Dudus' issue

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), in the same vein as the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the Jamaica Council of Churches, has called on the Bruce Golding-led Government to send the extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to the local courts for judgment.

"The JCC's position is … exactly as the PSOJ's, that it should go to the courts," said Francis Kennedy, first vice-president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.

Kennedy was responding to a question from The Gleaner at a meeting between members of the JCC and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, held yesterday at the JCC's offices in downtown Kingston.

The PSOJ last week threw its hat into the ring of public opinion surrounding the matter of Coke's extradition to the United States, saying the issue should be dealt with by the courts.

The extradition saga has been ratcheting up a number of levels after the prime minister rejected America's arguments for the extradition of Coke to face narcotics and gun-smuggling charges.

Simpson Miller also briefly weighed in on the matter, saying that her position was the same as her party's.

"I think you know already the party's position; the party's spokespersons spoke," she said.

The People National Party has also called for the Government to let the issue be decided in the courts.

In the meeting between Simpson Miller and the JCC, she called on the Government to enter into dialogue with the Opposition to come up with solutions.