“Is really Bruce do it?” That is the question Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora are asking, since Prime Minister Bruce Golding confessed in Parliament on Tuesday, after weeks of deliberate denial, that it was he who ordered his Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) to contract the U.S. law firm Manatt Phelps and Phillips.

Golding told parliament, “I sanctioned the initiative, knowing that such interventions have in the past proven to be of considerable value in dealing with issues involving the governments of both countries. I made it absolutely, unmistakably clear, however, that this was an initiative to be undertaken by the party, not by or on behalf of the Government.”

The confession has increased calls for the Golding’s resignation from several organizations, including the National Democratic Movement, which Golding founded, and the Centre for Leadership.

Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller admonished Golding saying, "The prime minister's admission that he sanctioned a scheme to circumvent the role of the Government of Jamaica to resolve a treaty dispute with the Government of the United States of America and normal diplomatic channels has brought the Government into disrepute."

Weeks ago when Dr. Peter Phillips, Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) spokesman, raised the question in parliament about whether the Jamaican government had contracted the law firm to lobby with the Obama Administration regarding the extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, Golding vehemently denied that any such arrangement was made.

The credibility of the government seems to be eroding over what has become known as the Manatt Phelps and Phillips affair, and the refusal to honor the request of the U.S. government to extradite Coke.

Golding told parliament that he sanctioned individuals in the JLP to contact Manatt Phelps and Phillips to lobby the Obama administration to drop its extradition request for Coke to face drug- and gun-running charges here.

Last month Jamaican Minister of Commerce, Karl Samuda, who was authorized by Golding to look into the PNP’s accusation that a contract was made with the U.S. law firm, said that he had discovered that it was members of the JLP who had initiated the contact with Manatt Phelps and Phillips. These party members had approached attorney-at-law Harold Brady last year to seek his assistance in initiating discussions with the law firm to intervene with the U.S. government to resolve a dispute related to the extradition treaty between Jamaica and the U.S., and which was the basis for Coke’s extradition.

But in his latest statement to parliament, Golding persisted to deny that the Jamaican government had not engaged any legal firm, consultant, or any entity whatsoever in relation to the extradition matter other than deploying the resources that are available within the Attorney General's Department. He stressed that was the original position and that position “remains to this day.”

In his statement to parliament Golding, in an obvious reference to Coke’s extradition, said his government would without hesitation, facilitate the extradition of any Jamaican citizen wanted to stand trial for extraditable offences once the obligations under the extradition treaty were met. He said the government would do everything necessary to facilitate the extradition of Coke once this was done in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and the laws of Jamaica. Golding has argued against the extradition on the grounds that the evidence brought against Coke leading to the extradition request, reported to be obtained by wire-tapping, was counter to the Jamaican Constitution.

Golding also said that the US$49,892.62 paid to the U.S. law firm to retain its services was not paid from Government fund but by individuals in the JLP.

Jamaicans including usually dedicated supporters of the JLP and the Golding administration said they were “nonplussed” by Golding’s confession.

A resident of Stony Hill said, “I can’t believe it was Bruce who ordered the contact with Manatt. How could he have made such a passionate denial, and he knew about it all the time?”

A student of the Mona campus of the UWI, and an activist of the youth arm of the JLP said, “There must be a clear explanation. The youth wants leaders they can trust.”

But, an attorney who claims to be related to a member of the government said, “Politicians must do what they have to do to secure the government. After all, the ends justify the means. Golding has the guts to admit that it was he who made the contact. Now let him get on with governing this country.”