We have faith in the absolute and clear willingness of the Jamaican Government to adhere to its international treaties and to operate in accordance with the rule of law.

This is why we are surprised by the air of mystery and doubtful expectation as to the administration's likely response to the reported request by the United States for a purported community don/business leader to be extradited to that country to answer to charges for allegedly breaching America's narcotics laws.

We do not know who this individual is, because, apparently, Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne has not yet signed an extradition order.

But in so far as that is the case, we read nothing into the action other than that the minister is properly allowing herself time to review the documents and to take legal advice so that she is assured that a prima facie case has been made and that her actions are within the law.

Nothing more.

Indeed, this newspaper is confident, whatever claims to the contrary, inside or outside of the country, of the capacity of Jamaican governments to act with impartiality, unshrouded by partisan expedience, in meeting judicial obligations.

Several times in recent years, for instance, the Jamaican authorities have extradited accused drug smugglers and other accused criminals to the US, including some who were branded as drug kingpins by that government.

As is the case with all accused persons, anyone against whom an extradition request is made is entitled to due process, to the full extent of the law, on which Jamaican courts are competent to adjudicate fairly.

On that score, we are confident that any case now before Minister Lightbourne will be handled squarely on the basis of the law without fear or favour.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.