(Jamaica Gleaner) Prime Minister Bruce Golding yesterday 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.
Golding told the Manatt-Dudus commission yesterday that the imbalance must be hammered out with urgency.
“There needs to be some rebalancing of the extradition arrangements between Jamaica and the United States,” Golding said. “There is an inequity for Jamaica … because Jamaicans are not treated in the same way 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, K.D. Knight.
He said Knight’s attempt to renegotiate the extradition arrangements then was met with stubborn resistance from the US.
The prime minister said his administration is determined to pursue discussions, but was awaiting the completion of the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry.
