Bruce Golding

Orette Bruce Golding (born 5 December 1947) is a former Jamaican politician who served as eighth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011.

In 1949, when he was only two years old, his family moved to St. Faiths district near Browns Hall, St. Catherine, where he spent the next five years.

He was only two years old in 1949 when his father was first elected as a Member of the House of Representatives for West St. Catherine, a seat that he retained for 22 years until his retirement in 1972.

Tacius Golding was the first Speaker of the House in independent Jamaica and also served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Housing.

Bruce Golding spent five years at St. George's College, and later transferred to Jamaica College to pursue A-Level studies.

In 1955, his mother accepted a teaching post at Alpha Academy in Kingston.

This necessitated that the family relocate to Kingston.

As a child, Golding grew up in a political environment.

In April 1966, Golding served as the school's head boy, and as such was a member of the party that welcomed Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia to JC.

He entered the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 1966 and graduated in 1969 with a BSc degree in Economics (2nd-class Honours), majoring in public administration.

Golding was the chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) before he and others felt the need to split and form a new party, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), in 1995.

In 2002, he rejoined the JLP and in November 2003 was again elected chairman of the party.

He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which he led from 2005 to his resignation in 2011.

He is the son of Tacius Golding and Enid Golding (née Bent), both teachers.

Bruce was the third of four children: the second—the only girl—died shortly after birth.

He was elected leader of the JLP, and also the leader of the opposition, on 20 February 2005, succeeding Edward Seaga.

Bruce Golding represented three different constituencies as a Member of Parliament: West St. Catherine, Central St. Catherine, and Kingston West.

While serving as prime minister, Golding and also hosted Jamaica House Live, a monthly talk show.

Golding, as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, became prime minister, following his party's slim victory in the 3 September 2007 general election and Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller's concession of defeat two days later.

The JLP defeated the People's National Party by a narrow margin of 32 seats to 28, with a turnout of 61.46%.

This election ended 18 years of PNP rule, and Golding became the new prime minister.

Golding was sworn in by the Governor-General of Jamaica on 11 September 2007.

Golding was the nation's eighth prime minister since independence.

In a sitting of Parliament on 16 March 2010, Opposition member Dr. Peter Phillips made reference to an alleged contractual arrangement between the Government and a United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to lobby the US Government on a treaty dispute between the two countries that had arisen as a result of the Jamaican Government refusing to sign an extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is wanted in the US on charges relating to narcotics, arms and ammunition trafficking.

The Golding Administration refused to sign the extradition request on the basis that the evidence was obtained contrary to Jamaican laws.

Golding denied claims that Manatt, Phelps & Phillips was contracted to represent the Jamaican Government.

A US Justice Department filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) showed that Manatt, Phelps & Phillips had secured a contract worth US $400,000 to represent the Jamaican government in the treaty dispute.

Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, made a statement in which he noted that unnamed members of the Jamaica Labour Party had approached Harold Brady, to see whether—through his wide network of international contacts—he could assist in facilitating the opening of discussions between the US authorities and the Government of Jamaica, and thereby seek to resolve what had become a treaty dispute between the US and Jamaica.

In a statement made by Golding on 11 May 2010 in Parliament, he revealed that he had sanctioned the initiative to lobby the US Government but that the initiative was to be undertaken by the Jamaica Labour Party and not on behalf of the government.

Following his revelation, the Opposition People's National Party; its youth arm, the PNPYO; and the National Democratic Movement called for his resignation as Prime

Minister.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips maintains that they were contracted on behalf of the Jamaican Government through Harold C.W. Brady of Brady and Co and have since severed ties with the Jamaican Government.

On 17 May 2010, in a televised address to the nation, Golding apologised to the Jamaican people for his involvement in the Manatt affair.

He stated that he was prepared to step aside as prime minister and leader of the Party in a meeting of the party executive.

The executive rejected his offer and reassured their support for his role as party leader and prime minister.

In April 2011, Bruce Golding said that Jamaica should break its ties with the British monarchy and become a republic.

Speaking during a budget debate, Golding said that "transforming Jamaica from a monarchical to a republican state means no disrespect, and must not be interpreted this way".

An ABC Network article reported that Bruce Golding was a 'criminal affiliate of Christopher Coke

’. The article referred to a U.S government document to sustain its position.

Golding categorically denied the accusation and this "U.S government document" has still not been produced.