Government sticks to its guns on late-night Vale Royal chat
Published:Friday | May 14, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
The government is continuing to downplay the significance of Wednes-day's late-night meeting at Prime Minister Bruce Golding's official residence, Vale Royal.
Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, yesterday echoed the claims of Information Minister Daryl Vaz that there was nothing unusual about the lengthy meeting, which seemed to be coming to an end when the Gleaner team left close to midnight.
Vaz, who was the only person willing to talk, told reporters at the gates of Vale Royal that there was nothing special about the meeting.
"The prime minister was away in Montego Bay from yesterday (Tuesday), and based on all that is happening, you couldn't expect anything different," Vaz told reporters.
"As minister of information, I have to come and brief him and tell him exactly what is happening, nothing out of the ordinary. I'm here most evenings and most nights, so there's nothing to be alarmed about," added Vaz.
Developments discussed
He admitted that the meeting discussed the developments following the prime minister's announcement that he had sanctioned moves by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to contract the American law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to intervene in the dispute over the United States request for the extradition of West Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
"This (meeting) is about everything that has transpired in the last 24 hours. It would be irresponsible of us not to meet with the prime minister and have detailed discussions on the situation that has unfolded," said Vaz.
Other government ministers and JLP members drove out of Vale Royal without speaking with journalists, while those who stopped gave no comment.
Government backbencher, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, also refused to comment as he drove into Vale Royal after 10 Wednesday night.
The Government has been on the defensive since Tuesday when the critics came out of the woodwork in the wake of the prime minister's announcement.