Premye mini Jamayik pral demisyonen paske li te reziste yon ekstradisyon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 25, 2011
Jamaica’s Beleaguered Leader to Step Down
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, will step aside in the next few weeks, the ruling party announced on Sunday. The move appeared intended to salvage the party’s chances in the next general election, which must be held by December 2012.

A brief announcement from the Jamaica Labor Party said Mr. Golding, 63, had decided to resign as party leader as soon as a replacement could be selected. The party’s leader automatically becomes the prime minister.

Mr. Golding’s political standing never recovered from his widely criticized handling of an extradition case in 2009 and 2010. For nine months, he resisted a United States request to hand over Christopher Coke, a powerful gang leader. When Mr. Golding finally sent security officers to arrest Mr. Coke, days of fighting ensued, and at least 76 people were killed before he was captured. Mr. Coke pleaded guilty to racketeering and assault charges in August in New York.

The dispute strained relations with the United States, which questioned Jamaica’s reliability as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking.

Jamaican PM to tender formal resignation on Sunday
Published on October 19, 2011

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- The transition of leadership of the Jamaican government will be completed on Sunday, when Prime Minister Bruce Golding formally tenders his resignation to the governor-general and a new prime minister is sworn in.

This will take place at a special ceremony at King's House commencing at 4.00 pm.

On Tuesday, Golding presided over his final Cabinet meeting. He used the occasion to thank his ministers for their support and hard work under his leadership. He noted that the government had overcome significant challenges over the last four years but emphasized that much remains to be done to accelerate the pace of economic recovery in order to be able to tackle the country's urgent social needs.

Golding also noted that, while some elements of the government's reform agenda had been completed, other important items are yet to be implemented. These, he said, were at an advanced stage of preparation and urged his colleagues to complete the process as a matter of urgency.

The prime minister also thanked the cabinet secretary and the staff of the Cabinet Office as well as the permanent secretary and staff of the Office of the Prime Minister for their support during his tenure.

After the Cabinet adjourned, Golding convened a meeting of government MPs and received their unanimous formal endorsement of Andrew Holness to succeed him as prime minister. Golding will convey this advice to the governor-general and tender his resignation on Sunday afternoon shortly before the ceremony at King’s House.

Andrew Holness vin pi jenn premye minis peyi jamayik