INDUSTRY MINISTER TO HANDLE BRADY - USA LAW FIRM ISSUE

CABINET DIRECTS INDUSTRY MINISTER TO HANDLE

BRADY/USA LAW FIRM ISSUE

Investment, Industry and Commerce Minister, Karl Samuda, will be handling the government's position in relation to claims that it was being represented by the US Law firm Manatt Phelps and Phillips up to mid February 2010.

 Minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure   at this morning's post cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

 "I was in receipt of the Solicitor General's opinion last week Thursday. Subsequently that was taken to Cabinet yesterday and instructions were given to the Attorney General that based on the Solicitor General's findings a letter should be sent to Manatt Phelps Phillips indicating the Government's position and reiterating that at no time did the government authorize Mr. Brady either as a consultant of the Government or to act on behalf of the Government. As a result of that, the Cabinet has asked the Hon Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry Investment and Commerce as well as General Secretary of the Party to deal with the matter going forward in relation to the response from the Solicitor General," said Minister Vaz.

The Minister allowed the press to inspect the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) visitors' log and also guest book to dismiss claims that there was evidence to show that there was a visit to Jamaica House by a member of that law firm. Mr. Vaz noted that checks with the relevant authorities through the Passport and Immigration offices could have verified whether any representative of the US law firm Manatt, Phelps, Phillips had in fact visited Jamaica during the relevant period.