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ice space.showing plans the fiscal yearHERtheies-? at atHRnrtfdy; andiw!(tOpposition, Gov’t lock horns over Brady contractFIREWORKS WENT off liberallyin Gordon House yesterday after Opposition member Peter Phillips made a startling revelation concerning an alleged contractual arrangement between the Government and a United Sates law firm, which works through a prominent local attorney to provide services in relation to political, economic and treaty agreements.The sum contracted -US$100,(XX) per quarter - was contained in a document on the US Department of Justice website.The issue raised by Phillips was flatly denied by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who said the Government had not entered into any such agreement with any law firm in the US.The explosive issue led to an Opposition walkout. Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller accused Speaker of the Houseof displaying bias inDelroyhis rulings.QUESTIONS ABOUT AGREEMENTControversy began to stir afterPhillips raised questions about an agreement he said the Jamaican Government had entered into with a law firm called Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, which has registered itself as the agent of the Government of Jamaica through Harold C.W, Brady of Brady andCompany, a local law firm.Brady is described in the document as a consultant Phillips' question arose during a debate on the .Sharing of Forfeited Property (United Kingdom) Order Resolution in the House.“My question is: Does this represent a contractual obligationJamaica? Does it relate to extradition matters, and is it properlyentered into by the individual?in a sharp response, Golding said: “Let me make it quite clear. The Government of Jamaica has not engaged any legal firm, any consultant, any entity whatsoever, in relation to any extradition matter other than deploying the resources that are available within the Attorney General's Department, who has a duty and a responsibility to guide the Government in these matters.TERMS OF RELATIONSHIPA letter supposedly signed by Manatt, Phelps and Phillips to Brady on the US Justice Department website said: “This letter describes the terms of our rela-tionship. Manatt, Phelps and(‘we’ or *us') will represent and advise Brady and Company, attomeys-at-law (‘you*) in connection with political and economic matters, including treaty agreements between Jamaica and the US “You agree that we will be paid aflat fee of US$100,000 quarterlywhich will be remitted at the beginning of each quarter for servicesrendered.During the verbal battle in theHouse, Opposition members rose, raising points of order, but these were dismissed by the Speaker.Turning to the Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke extradition matter. Golding blasted the Opposition for seeking to force the Government’s hand in signing the extradition request.According to the prime minister, the issue was a treaty matter and was not a court matter. Discussions, he said, were stillinvolving the Government of ongoing with the United States
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Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Wed, Mar 17, 2010
Page 1
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Amanda H.
USA 22 Jun 2023
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