Today's meeting with the Ahmad family gave us an opportunity to ask Foreign Affairs Minister Elrington about the latest developments in the extradition request that the US government has made for attorney Andrew Bennett.
We reported last night that the Elrington has signed off on the extradition file from the US State Department, and that he forwarded it to the Attorney General's Ministry. When we asked him about it today, he told us that he couldn't say more than confirming that indeed it is now in the hands of the Solicitor General's office:
Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Home Affairs
"I did sign the documents requesting formal procedure to be comments for the extradition. There is not much more to say, I signed it on Tuesday after the cabinet meeting."
Reporter
"Are you satisfied with what is being presented in terms of the case that the United States is putting together for the extradition of Mr. Bennett?"
Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Home Affairs
"Surely that is a matter for the magistrate when it goes there, this is really a formal request made and there is not much I can do with respect to that. I am like a post office almost in that regard. The pressing as to the propriety of the request and the law will be dealt with at the magistrate stage."
Reporter
"But sir..."
Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Home Affairs
"I did not really put any weight concentration into that issue, as far as I'm concerned, it's a formality for now. The minister is required to sign the documents. I have signed and sent them out."
Reporter
"Sir are you satisfied though that this is a proper and full request and not a frivolous matter?"
Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Home Affairs
"As I am saying to you, that's a matter for the magistrate to be dealing with when the matter appears before them."
Reporter
"Can you speak of time lines and your knowledge of these types of things?"
Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Home Affairs
"I don't have a lot of knowledge with respect. I would imagine that they would've worked on them certainly this week to try to get it moving. I think this matter was pending before the Christmas holidays begun. So it's about time that they move with it now."
The next step is for the AG's Ministry to take the case before the Chief Magistrate for the issuance of a provisional warrant. We'll definitely be at court when that happens.
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