Jamaica’s Prime Minister has confessed that the handling of the Christopher “Dudus” Coke extradition has maimed the image of his party.

Hon. Mr. Golding recently stepped down as the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party in light of his links to the West Kingston strongman.

Dudus’ transferal to the US authorities, on gun and drug running charges, was unconstitutional according to the Prime Minister.

“Questions about the role I played in the Coke/Manatt matter have remained a source of concern in the minds of many people.” said the outgoing leader in his address to the Jamaican people.

“It was about a breach of our Constitution and had it been a person other than Coke it perhaps would never have become the cause célèbre that it turned out to be.

“We have since amended the Interception of Communications Act to permit in the future, the action that was taken in Coke’s case but which, at that time, was in violation of our Constitution.”

The proposed amendments should bring greater coherence to the existing Act, reducing the likelihood of misinterpretation and making it less susceptible to political manipulation.

At the time of the extradition, the constitution’s Interception of Communication’s Act, required that a designated officer apply independently to a judge for a warrant to intercept information being transmitted.

The conditions of the act, also states that the interception should be done by using a public or private telecommunications network.

The amendment will allow for the disclosure of intercepted information to any foreign Government or agency of such Government, granted it complies with conditions attached to the specified agreement.

The memorandum of objects and reasons indicates that the information obtained from the intercepted communication could be shared with a foreign Government, where Jamaica has an agreement with that country for mutual exchange of that kind of information.

There is also a stipulation that the intercepted communication should be used solely for the purpose of the prevention, detection or prosecution of an offence.

During the 2010 extradition proceedings Mr. Golding focused his concern on the alleged violation of the fugitive’s right, and declined to facilitate the United State’s extradition request.

Mr. Golding contended that the lines of the so-called “drug lord” were illegally tapped, as the conditions of the Interception of Communication Act were not adhered to.

The Prime Minister suggested that the information used to implicate Mr. Christopher “Dudus” Coke was unethically obtained, and was therefore a violation of Coke’ human rights.

It was alleged that the telephone of the West Kingston Area Leader, was secretly “tapped” by undercover investigators from a multi-national Intelligence agency.

During the 2010 extradition proceedings Mr. Golding focused his concern on the alleged violation of the fugitive’s right, and declined to facilitate the United State’s extradition request.

The government’s rejection of the extradition request was formed on the basis that the interception of the fugitive’s communication was unconstitutional.

In a much more repentant and somber mood, the embattled politician now concedes that his journey has come to an end.

After the controversial extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke the Prime Minister has experienced the dishonor of public mistrust, negative international publicity, and accusations about his Party’s relationship with criminal elements.

The Prime Minister has had to tackle his decline in popularity and support while struggling to rescue a deteriorating economy and escalating crime problems.

“The entire episode has affected me deeply and the perceptions that are held by some people have not been dispelled, notwithstanding the exhaustive deliberations of a Commission of Enquiry.” Said Mr. Golding

“I cannot allow the challenges we face and the issues that we as a people must confront to be smothered or overpowered by this saga and the emotions that they ignite. It would not be fair to my country; it would not be fair to my party.”