Permanent Secretary in the Jamaican Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Evadne Coye testified on Monday, as the Commission of Enquiry into the drug kingpin Christopher "Dudus" Coke affair, opened in Kingston.

Coye, the former Jamaican High Commissioner to Ottawa, testified that a lawyer from the United States law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips was a member of the government delegation sent to meet with US officials.

The Jamaica Observer reported that Coye, under cross examination from Frank Phipps QC, said that she was working with the government of Jamaica and that it had nothing to do with the Jamaica Labour Party. She said that to her knowledge the JLP was not involved.

Coye testified that, in December 2009, she went to the residence of the Jamaican ambassador to Washington, Anthony Johnson, and that attorney Harold Brady was present, together with an attorney from Manatt, Phelps and Phillips. She said that she later learned that the attorney was named Kevin Di Gregory.

She said that Deputy Solicitor General Lackston Robinson had told her that the lawyer would be a part of the Jamaican delegation to meet with US State Department and Justice Department officials, which included her, himself and Solicitor General Douglas Leys.

The Commission is chaired by Emil George QC, assisted by Anthony Irons, a retired permanent secretary, and Queen's Counsel Donald Scharschmidt.

The government has earmarked approximately JA$40 million (US$470,000) to fund the enquiry. The Commission is expected to conclude its hearings on February 28, 2011.